Help to Grow: Management
The government-funded course for businesses Some businesses will qualify for fully-funded places on the programme at De Montfort University’s Leicester Castle Business School WORDS BY KERRY SMITH
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usinesses in Leicester are benefitting from a government-funded management course that enhances and develops their potential to grow. If you’re a business owner or leader who’s consistently seeking new opportunities to learn and take your career or company to the next level, then by now you may have heard of the Help to Grow programme, which was launched last year by the government in partnership with Small Business Charter. Help to Grow: Management is supporting senior managers of small and medium sized businesses to boost their performance, resilience, and long-term growth. The 12-week programme is 90% funded by the government, meaning businesses will only pay £750. There are around 70 universities and business schools in the UK that were specially selected to offer this course, and our very own De Montfort University is one of them. DMU has been accredited by the Small Business Charter, an award which recognises the high quality, tailored guidance that the university provides to support small businesses and the local economy. 28 | NICHE
What’s in it for your business?
The programme, which takes around 50 hours in total, will be delivered by professors at Leicester Castle Business School and is designed to fit alongside work commitments. Leaders will develop a bespoke business growth plan to help their business reach their full potential, receive one to one support form a business mentor, and be surrounded by a network of business people just like themselves. Other key areas that the programme includes are strategy and innovation, building a brand, financial management, employee engagement, internationalisation, digital adoption, and marketing strategy. During your course, students will have exclusive access to their peer network, a forum to share experiences and learn first-hand from real-world challenges that they may also face as their business grows. The course will help develop leadership and management skills that will enhance employee wellbeing and engagement in the process as well as the ability to recognise what drives productivity and growth. It
