Online CPD: Driving Economic Growth Through Better Business Support (Ruth Lambert)

Ruth Lambert is Development Manager at the Federation of Small Business (FSB), where she provides business support to FSB members across Somerset and Wiltshire. She also sits on a number of economic boards organised by local authorities or LEPs representing small businesses and discussing how economic strategy can best support their needs. 

Having signed up to the IED’s Certificate in Economic Development, Ruth recently completed the Driving Economic Growth Through Better Business Support module led by IED past Chair and current Board member Bev Hurley CBE.

“The Driving Economic Growth Through Better Business Support module was an opportunity to review the support activities I offer to members across Somerset and Wiltshire to make sure these are as useful as possible and marketed in the most impactful way,” Ruth said. “I found the course extremely helpful. It is good to take time out of being immersed in your role to think about how things are operating more strategically.

“The wider Certificate in Economic Development is a way to deepen my own understanding of economic issues as I have a business background but have not studied economics formally. This has given me a broader context for topics being discussed by the panels I am part of rather than simply a county or regional view.”

As Ruth completes the Certificate, she is immediately taking her new learning into her job. “All the modules have given me useful knowledge I can apply to my role,” she explained. “For example, rural economic development helped me to understand why government policy often misses the mark for rural small businesses, and the business support sessions made me step back and sense check my own member support.

“My role is to be a generalist across a multitude of different areas. It has been very useful to do deep dives into particular topics to give some theoretical structure to the reality I see facing businesses across my area. This helps me make more informed decisions on local priorities.”

Ruth added: “I would definitely recommend IED CPD workshops to others and have encouraged colleagues to attend. It is useful to take time out from our busy working lives and to understand the broader context of an economic decision or situation. It is important to keep learning as policy changes so quickly.”

Case study developed: June 2023