Knowledge Transfer International Ltd

The NWDA LEAD programme is an important leadership development opportunity for owners of small businesses. Knowledge Transfer International is one of 13 organisations commissioned by the NWDA to deliver the programme.

The team at KTI all run their own small businesses so our approach is practical and with a deep understanding of the needs, aspirations, and barriers to growth of small businesses. Key members of our team worked on the original LEAD programme so we are ideally placed to guide and assist our clients on their LEAD journey.

Every business is different - we can't tell you how to run yours. We can, however, give you tools and ideas to help you and your team develop your own business in the way that's right for you.

We take a pragmatic view of the possibilities but also expect businesses to grow dramatically as a result of our programme. KTI's LEAD programme offers a carefully selected mix of the thought-provoking, the challenging, the inspiring and the practical to develop your skills as a leader and your business.

KTI has also assembled a team of truly inspirational speakers, including Rachel Elnaugh of Dragons' Den fame, Pauline Clare, the UK's first female Chief Constable, and Derek Clark, coach of the winning Oxford boat crew. They will share their wide and varied experiences, introduce ways of getting the best out of you and your team and open you up to new and challenging ways of thinking about business.

Laurie Smith

Laurie worked on the LEAD programme since its early days at Lancaster University, evaluating the pilot programme and subsequently delivering various elements. This has given him a unique insight into why the programme works so well in meeting the needs of SME participants. As with all KTI team members, Laurie also runs a small business. Along with several years experience working with SME owner managers this means he understands the pressures owner managers face.

Dennis Langley

Key expertise: Project Manager specialising in Innovation & Technology Transfer.

Dennis is an experienced Project Manager in the fields of innovation, technology transfer and business support services. His background is in Manufacturing Engineering in small sub-contracting companies and large multinationals. He has been responsible for new product introduction in a career spanning aero-engine fuel systems, office photocopiers and central heating boilers.

He has designed, secured funding for and delivered a significant number of publicly funded business support projects to assist start-up and established businesses.

Dennis is an Associate Member of the Chartered Management Institute.

Martin York

Martin is currently Chairman of G4h Limited, a sales and marketing consultancy, and non-executive business advisor and shareholder with SKS-Solutions Ltd.

His whole career has been as a leader and manager. As an RAF officer he was trained in functional leadership as well as holding command positions. As a business leader and director he has led many major business initiatives, and has been an SME owner manager. As a consultant he has mentored SME owner managers, and been non-executive director of three other SMEs since 1997. He was trained as an engineer, spent nine years in the RAF as an engineer officer, became a sales executive in the IT industry followed by sales management roles leading to general management and director positions in several blue chip companies including Siemens and McDonnell Douglas. Martin was there at the beginning of the internet revolution whilst at NeXT Software and at Symetris (building some of the first commercial web sites). Recent achievements include founding G4h as a successful agency, becoming a preferred supplier to Enterprise Ireland for the delivery of training courses and masterclass workshops to Irish SMEs.

Martin is an Associate of KTI.