In May 2024, the LHV business client growth programme was launched, primarily aimed at small business loan clients. The growth programme’s goal is to support entrepreneurs’ development and provide them with practical knowledge and support that will help grow their businesses and make important decisions.
The growth programme consists of two parts: coaching and practical training.
Coaching is primarily intended for our loan clients and is delivered by highly regarded and qualified Estonian coaches who have practical experience and a suitable background for supporting the growth of companies and leaders. In coaching, a person can come with the topic that is most relevant and important to them. Whether it is maintaining personal motivation, making important decisions, creating a three-year plan for the company, or managing time. Since coaching is a process and change doesn’t happen overnight, LHV offers its clients three free coaching sessions to give entrepreneurs the opportunity to truly dive into the topic and start their development.
For existing micro and small businesses, we have created a training programme. We have conducted 35 training sessions in Tallinn, Tartu, and Pärnu, attended by approximately 1,500 entrepreneurs. The training sessions are delivered by both LHV employees and training providers from Coaching Agency.
‘When developing the content of the training sessions, my wish was that we wouldn’t talk about the bank’s latest solutions that we offer, but that the main goal would be to contribute to the entrepreneur’s development and growth in a way that allows them to gain useful information from the training and also meet other entrepreneurs, similar to themselves,’ says Marko Kiisa, Head of SME Financing at LHV.
Entrepreneurs particularly express great appreciation for the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs like themselves. Small business owners often operate alone, and the opportunity to expand their network and learn from the experiences of others is highly valued. It is common to see participants exchanging contacts at the end of the training, discussing ideas, or even arranging a shared lunch.
What did this programme actually give to entrepreneurs? Here is some feedback from participants over the years:
The programme offered by LHV, where entrepreneurs can use the support of leadership coaches, is extremely valuable and necessary. During the coaching sessions, I focused on thinking through possibilities for future directions, and if I’d weighed the ideas up alone, I definitely wouldn’t have reached the same results. I see that such programmes bring clients closer to the bank, as entrepreneurs realise that the bank truly cares about how its clients are doing and contributes to amplifying the client’s success. An excellent initiative, and I hope LHV continues with it. I strongly advise entrepreneurs to take advantage of this opportunity.
Merle
I feel deep gratitude that LHV cares about small businesses, and not only in words and on paper, but in its actions as well. I’m glad that I was able to participate in all three seminars and benefit from the experience of truly top specialists. It is clear that the LHV people run this programme with a big heart and genuine care for advancing entrepreneurship. LHV is my bank both for personal and business finances, and honestly, it even feels strange to call it a ‘bank’, since LHV is something more. And that should probably be the goal – to serve clients on a higher level.
Annely
I’m so grateful to LHV for the opportunity to participate in the training sessions and coaching that I will probably remain an LHV client forever, even if they were to raise banking fees to the sky!
Kristiina
I would like to praise the organisers of this growth programme, from the author(s) of the idea to the organisation and the speakers; my colleague and I have now participated in several events, and they have all been exciting and content-rich.
P.S. The catering was also great – snacks help people connect around the table!
Katrin
When LHV Pank sent my company an email with the first invitation to a training session of the LHV business client growth programme, I was surprised, to put it mildly. ‘Since when do banks deal with something like this?’ I asked myself.
I have two companies, the newer one being a client of LHV Pank and the other, which has been operating for about four years, a client of another bank. Over those four years, the other bank has never once shown an interest in my development or overall progress as an entrepreneur. I didn’t particularly expect it either, but now that LHV Pank, in my view, has taken off in cooperation with entrepreneurs, I even feel a slight note of disappointment that the other banking company has not offered me such support.
There is admittedly a bit of humour in the above, but certainly also a lot of sincere positivity. A big bow to LHV Pank – you’ve taken something as small, simple, and elementary as supporting micro and small entrepreneurs and turned it into something almost innovative, because others don’t do it. As a micro-entrepreneur, I feel that I’m valued by the bank, that value is seen in me and in my company, and that there is belief and a willingness to invest in it.
If a bank is generally like an old grey house on the side of the street, then through the growth programme, the bank gained a soul for me. It became a person and a partner in cooperation, not just an object. I am generally not a big feedback giver, especially when it comes to positive feedback, but in this situation, I feel the need to say these words: keep doing what you are doing, because it is, simply, so right!
Words fall short of expressing all the emotions and thoughts. LHV Pank should definitely receive some kind of award in banking for this activity. Here is where a bank can say that it is truly company- and client-centric. I believe that if a bank supports entrepreneurs, it will one day pay off many times over, because the benefits are mutual.
So far I have attended coaching exactly once, and that one time has had an enormous impact, and I am not exaggerating with my words. What matters is the feeling that stays inside. After the coaching session, several ideas emerged that I’ve been able to implement, and the results are already right in front of me. Simply wow!
Gerli
Anonymous excerpts
LHV is a very cool company, and the gift they’ve offered us is simply the best. It wasn’t some kind of merchandise or something done merely to please clients, but something that truly helps people and companies move forward, and, one could say, it doesn’t give you a fish but teaches you how to catch them. It is something others haven’t done. The timing was also surprising – it came after I’d taken a loan, not before, as in ‘take a loan, and you’ll get a gift’. A gift given after purchasing the product is much deeper and also creates even more trust towards future ‘purchases’. I really liked it, and it makes me talk about them as an exceptional company. LHV’s advertising slogan ‘a bank like you’ is very accurate – it really resonated with me, and this coaching gift confirmed it even more.
I would like to thank LHV for creating and funding this programme. In my opinion, this is a very valuable and practical initiative, especially for start-ups and entrepreneurs in the growth phase. The coaching received through the programme wasn’t merely theoretical but provided real and applicable support in organising work processes, maintaining focus, and making informed decisions. Such support helps entrepreneurs avoid early mistakes and accelerates their development into systematic and sustainable companies.
The three sessions passed by quickly, and it was a truly eye-opening experience that was beneficial for both me and my company. With Merit’s guidance, I gained:
- an even deeper understanding of my goals and a stronger interpretation of the actions that would lead to better results;
- practical tools for personal and professional development;
- inspiration to fly higher and more productively. Her approach was supportive and structured, yet very human and always full of energy. Merit’s ability to ask precise questions and brilliantly guide the conversation brought out new perspectives to move towards. Thank you, LHV, for this inspiring opportunity! I’m grateful that you support your clients in this way and are part of entrepreneurs’ growth journeys.
This is a very valuable initiative. I probably wouldn’t have found my way to coaching on my own, but thanks to such a programme, I received a strong boost for my company’s progress. I am very grateful for the entire programme.
It is very difficult and perhaps even impossible to assess the financial benefit of the coaching project, but in terms of reputation, it certainly had a positive effect on me. Because of this, LHV has become a bank for me with much deeper values and a different value system.
At the same time, through different ventures, I’m a client of all the major banks.
I’m very grateful for the opportunity to receive inspiration and a safe space from Merit, a top-class coach who herself has experienced so much in the business world. I really enjoyed how she adapted to my energy and always knew how to guide attention towards gaining clarity within myself.
For me today, coaching is a meeting with a unique person who truly knows how to listen and reflect without their ego interfering. It is like meeting yourself, bringing deeper missions and visions to the surface. The sessions helped me focus and encouraged reflection on the most important questions and directions that do not emerge in everyday routine, and that had previously hindered breakthroughs.
The coaching support was very good! Hearing my own formulated thoughts through another person worked well. At each of the three meetings, we created a small plan for how to act in those three different situations in the future – a good foundation that gives me the confidence to take responsibility and continue in my role as the leader of my company.
The coaching sessions made possible by LHV were exactly what I needed as the head of a small company. I needed exactly this. The scope was also initially very appropriate, because I had three major concerns, and a solution was found for each of them through coaching. Merit Miller is a very good coach, able to reflect my thoughts well and also make them clearer for me. In any case, I’m very grateful to LHV Pank for the opportunity to participate in this programme with my small business!
Today, coaching means a journey for me in which I discover my potential and learn to see the goals I want to achieve more clearly. It is an opportunity to pause, listen to myself and gain an external perspective – from mentors who help ask the right questions and direct energy in the right direction. Coaching is also like a compass – it doesn’t directly determine the path, but shows where you are and where you could go. And more boldly! I experienced inspiring coaching and practical additional support that gave me an even stronger and more confident push towards my goals.
During our coaching sessions, I received support on several levels. First, these meetings helped me gain greater clarity and focus in resolving the topics discussed – I understood my goals better and was able to articulate them more concretely, which in turn gave me a clearer direction forward and a vision for the future. The coach’s questions and feedback helped me view situations from another angle and find new solutions. In addition, I felt that coaching gave me not only answers but also valuable questions that guided me to think and develop more deeply. It was a journey that positively influenced both my professional and personal growth and energy. Everything was 10/10, and it all came at exactly the right time. I’m grateful that Merit Miller was my coach!
Coaching is an assistant for looking towards the future. Through the meetings, I gained clarity. Regardless of what has been, I have faith in myself and support to move forward! I really liked Merit’s professionalism and warmth.
A huge thank you to LHV for launching such a programme. A micro-entrepreneur who dares to use a loan for development needs special support, as they are often alone in their decisions and activities. Without a loan, it’s very difficult to implement activities that support development. Thank you very much!
The training sessions have been very well received among clients, and interest in them is high. Places are often filled within the first couple of hours after registration opens. This clearly shows that Estonian small business owners actively seek opportunities for learning, development and sharing experiences with each other.
We organise the growth programme in cooperation with Coaching Agency and the European Investment Fund (EIF). Read more about it here.
