Applications Closing for January start of New Government Business Support Course

Businesses in the UK are encouraged to register before Christmas to confirm their place on the latest cohort of an industry-leading national management training course.

The Help to Grow: Management course is designed to provide the management tools needed to help talented business leaders innovate and grow their business, driving our economic recovery from coronavirus (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-module programme is 90% 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. Courses at Aston Business School are open for applications – apply and find out more here.

Current programme participant Karla Batchelor, Agilysys Ltd, said: "As a Finance Director, I expected this programme to be formally structured with clear homework and assessment points - that's how accountancy qualifications work.

“What I have had to realise over the weeks, is that the learning I'm gaining is not necessarily about discovering new areas of knowledge.

“It is about having the time to re-cap on tools and models that we already have in our portfolio and taking them back into the business.

 “It's gone beyond my expectations, and the mentor sessions alone are worth the cost. I'd really recommend it." 

Paula Whitehouse, curriculum director for Help to Grow: Management and associate dean enterprise of the College of Business and Social Sciences, said:

"As a small business leader, you have to know about all the key business functions and how to optimise them to drive high performance in your business. 

“Help to Grow: Management will combine this essential business education with the creation of a like-minded business network and support for the practical application of the learning to ensure businesses get immediate results.

“I am excited to be working with Small Business Charter business school colleagues all over the country to roll out the Help to Grow: Management curriculum and ultimately to be introducing many more business leaders from the West Midlands into Aston's vibrant entrepreneurial community."

Mark Hart, professor of small business and entrepreneurship at Aston University and associate director of Aston Centre for Growth, said:

“The launch of the Government’s Help to Grow: Management programme for SMEs is a welcome addition at a critical time to the range of support available to small business leaders across the UK. 

“Small firms will drive the recovery as they have always done in previous economic downturns and equipping their leaders with the leadership and management skills from the UK’s leading business schools will ensure that they will build even more resilient, innovative and sustainable businesses capable of responding to the emerging opportunities in their chosen markets. 

“This is a practical, intensive 12-module programme designed by some of our top academics to provide the skills required to improve the performance and productivity of small firms across all sectors of the economy”.

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.”

Aston Business School’s Centre for Growth will deliver a special online information session on Tuesday 7th December for business leaders to have their questions about the course answered by the University team.