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Helping you to grow your business

Running a small business can be tough, and at times can feel lonely at the top

Help to Grow: Management is a programme which has been designed specifically to provide the space, support and skills needed to help SME leaders tackle the challenges and opportunities they face.

Professor Hannah Hesselgreaves, who is leading the Help to Grow programme for Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University, said:

“Described as a ‘mini-MBA’ by a past participant, this programme provides a brilliant opportunity to hone leadership skills, drive innovation and put in place the plans to take your business to the next stage of development.”

Around 60 SMEs have already completed the 12-week management course in the North East, where the programme is delivered online by a team of small business experts handpicked by Newcastle Business School to share their knowledge and expertise. The delivery team includes entrepreneurs, business leaders and respected academics – all of whom have significant commercial experience.

Help to Grow combines practical learning with personalised one-to-one support from a business mentor, who can offer tailored advice and insight. It also includes peer-to-peer sessions, which provide invaluable opportunities for participants to share diverse knowledge and experiences.

The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, relevant to any sector and key to any SME looking to drive sustainable growth. Topics include: strategy and innovation; digital adoption; employee engagement; building a brand; efficient operations; and financial management.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the programme is the opportunity for participants to create their own actionable growth plan to take back and deliver within their business.

Mark Melville, Director at Concept Accountancy, recently completed the programme; he said:

“I’d encourage any SME leader to sign up for Help to Grow – it gives you that time and space to really think about key business decisions and future planning. The process of completing the programme has focussed my mind and really structured the way that I’m going to move the business forward.”

With 90% of costs subsidised by Government, as part of its commitment to support business recovery post-pandemic, employers pay just £750 of the £7,500 programme.

Delivered in partnership with the Chartered Association of Business Schools (Chartered ABS), Help to Grow is keenly supported by Northumbria University’s newly appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Law, Professor Robert MacIntosh, who is also Chair of the Chartered ABS.

Professor MacIntosh said:

“Help to Grow offers significant opportunities for those leading smaller businesses. It is a highly practical programme designed to boost performance, resilience and prospects for growth – and with its track record of excellence in supporting SMEs, Newcastle Business School is ideally placed to deliver the programme here in the region.”

To find out more visit https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/helptogrow or watch the below video:

To secure a place on the programme, visit https://smallbusinesscharter.org/h2gm-registration/ and select Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Northumbria University .