Small business owners are being offered the chance to join a new management training programme which is run at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
Aimed at senior managers and leaders of SMEs, the Help to Grow: Management course is 90 per cent funded by Government and is being backed by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, who announced it in the latest Budget.
DMU’s Leicester Castle Business School is one of a number of business schools across the UK chosen to deliver the course, which begins next month.
The Help to Grow: Management programme is designed to provide the management tools needed to help talented business leaders innovate and grow their business, driving economic recovery from Covid-19.
Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, modules cover financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, leading a high-performance workplace and digital adoption.
By the end of the programme, business leaders will develop a tailored business growth plan to help lead your business to its full potential with access to mentoring and an alumni network.
The 12-week programme is 90 per cent subsidised by the Government as part of its Plan for Jobs to help businesses to drive growth and protect jobs, and is aimed at senior leaders of small and medium businesses.
Dr Dyneshia Johnson, programme leader and an expert on management and leadership, said: “We are passionate about supporting small businesses to succeed and the practical emphasis on this course will draw on many real-life examples that will inspire and motivate.
“We will have our experienced academics delivering the course alongside business leaders and aim to create a space where people can learn and form new networks.”
By taking part in the programme, participants will develop a business growth plan tailored to their organisation's individual needs and helping them to reach their full potential, as well as learning and developing a greater understanding of modern management and business techniques.
Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: “Seizing opportunity is what being a business leader is all about, and our Help to Grow Management Scheme gives entrepreneurs the chance to access the very best advice on how to innovate, reach new customers and boost profits.
“The practical training scheme is 90% funded by the government and designed around busy business owners’ schedules, so I would encourage entrepreneurs across the UK to get involved and maximise the potential of their business.”
The programme takes place over three months and will include both online and face-to-face sessions, alongside peer support and mentoring.
The programme is built around a practical curriculum which features:
- Eight facilitated online two hour sessions
- Four practical and interactive case study workshops
- One-to-one support from a mentor, providing you with personalised support to develop your business growth plan
- Peer networking, including peer group calls that give you the opportunity to share experiences with a small group of other small business leaders
- Access to the Alumni Programme featuring events with inspirational speakers, business clinics and networking events
Prior to Help to Grow, the LCBS team ran the Small Business Leadership Programme which supported more than 80 businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Ian Caldwell, chief executive of Menphys, was among the participants. He said: “I was delighted to take part in the SBLP. It gave me a fantastic opportunity to network with a wide range of business owners and learn from their experiences.
“The programme was led and delivered by and excellent group of subject matter experts who provided learning and insights into contemporary best practice in sessions built around real life and practical examples.”
- Interested in joining? Drop us an email at H2GM@dmu.ac.uk and we'll take it from there.
Posted on Sunday 29 August 2021