In combination with public agencies throughout the Eastern region - and beyond - the Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS) runs a programme of knowledge transfer activities and specialised short courses, building on the back of the long-established Masters Degree course in Arts Management. These involve short courses and organisation-based training in:

• Strategic development
• Resource and market planning
• Evaluation and benchmarking
• Organisational development

Clients in this area include the Arts Council, Living East and the National Trust.

LAIBS has undertaken or is currently participating in publicly funded work to:

• Improve mentoring skills and the extent of mentoring in arts based businesses in the East of England
• Develop standards of management and leadership among arts-sponsoring organisations
• Provide computer-based methods of linking arts managers with appropriate skill resources
• Embed creativity and innovation in small and medium size businesses in the East of England, using arts based techniques

The intention is for this to be rolled out nationally once the concept has been proven.