Summer School offers shot in arm to city SMEs

Starting your own business is tough, according to Liverpool entrepreneur Yinka Koomson, founder of Ujima Ice Cream and graduate of Liverpool Business School’s acclaimed Summer School.

“Having an original idea is just the start,” she says; like selling ice-creams of authentic African flavours, a novel and eye-opening enterprise, particularly in a multi-cultural city.

“But you don’t know what you don’t know” she adds and for that reason joined LBS’s summer school to learn about finance models and directorships.

The mother-of-three, who also works in the NHS, attended numerous of the free sessions run at LJMU by experts over the ‘school’ from June 1-11. It’s the fifth year LBS has run the free sessions for the community with more than 250 participants from across the city-region.

“It was a great help to guide me and stop me thinking I’m useless at business,” laughed Yinka. “The fact is you’re not stupid, you just didn’t know the rules!”

‘Immediate and lasting impact’

LBS, which was awarded the Small Business Charter in 2025, specialises in support for start-ups, small business managers, community organisations and professionals looking to move up the ladder in the public or private sector.

Its annual programme include practical, interactive workshops focused on leadership, communication, creativity, digital skills and business growth. Sessions are led by LBS academics and industry practitioners and blend theory with real-world experience.

Dr Fiona Armstrong Gibbs, programme leader in workplace learning at LJMU, said: “This is the fifth year we have run the Summer School and we are delighted with its immediate and lasting impact.

“Attendees report increased confidence, clearer strategic thinking, and tangible changes in how they lead teams and organisations. Many have gone on to engage further with LJMU through executive education, collaborative projects and postgraduate study.”

Among the first beneficiaries was Adele Myers, who works to disburse funds to promising entrepreneurs from lower socio-economic backgrounds and signed up to the Summer School so she could recommend it to her clients.

“If I was going to signpost the school to others, I needed to know what they were getting exactly”, says Adele, who had no formal business education but had run her own business.

“I found it really beneficial for myself and I think the experiences of the attendees feeds back into the programme of the university. It’s a two-way street where the business community and the experts share and that’s a really great thing for the city.”

Changing careers

Dr Aileen Jones, LJMU’s pro vice-chancellor for external engagement and partnerships, said: “The programme aligns with the city-region’s mission to strengthening local leadership capacity and foster growth through high-level skills.

“Lifelong learning is not only crucial for the economy but also for individuals in a rapidly changing and increasingly disrupted world of employment.”