Led by Georgia Southern University
From October 2010 the Hub, Georgia Southern University and the Technical College of the Lowcountry have focused on the development of a learning set program called "six-squared" designed to enable peer-to-peer learning – it is designed as an action based development program for local small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and managers which enable participants to learn from each other.
Six–squared participants work on their own business problems with the support of like-minded individuals. The program is structured around regular meetings of the group; peer-to-peer mentoring amongst the group members; and an exchange element where mentors work with each other on specific business issues relevant to their ventures.
Basic Principles:
- Participants are to feel safe to speak freely in a confidential environment.
- Owners, entrepreneurs or senior managers will participate.
- There is careful selection of different industries and sectors to ensure no direct competition.
- All participants must commit to engage fully in their learning set and to give back to the program by becoming facilitators to expand the program.
The Learning Set Experience:
- Six local entrepreneurs are planned for each learning set. The six members of the first learning set have been recruited and are graduates of the Technical College of the Lowcountry/Hub FastTrac© Program.
- A trained facilitator will make sure everyone benefits and that program objectives are met.
- The learning set will meet once every 4-6 weeks for 3 hours each meeting.
- Meetings will be held at the Hub, at participant's business locations or via online technology provided by the Hub and Georgia Southern University.
- The learning set employs a practical learning cycle (see graphic).
- Each individual has a mentor and is a mentor. During the gaps between learning set team meetings individuals will be phoned by their mentor once a week to discuss developments.
- Each mentor engages directly in a problem experienced by the business of the person they are mentoring.
- The learning set design encourages visits to each other's businesses.
- The model is designed to be a sustainable "self-help" approach which is entrepreneur led.
- All of the time is spent on personal development and business improvement.
