Available through Staffordshire University, the Help To Grow Management programme is 90 per cent funded by government and will support senior managers of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to boost their business performance, resilience and long-term growth.
Emily Whitehead, Entrepreneur in Residence at Staffordshire University, is a business coach and founder of Simply Great Britain, who is delivering on the 12-week programme in the New Year.
She said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer two courses, both of which are starting in January and will be delivered both online and through face-to-face workshops. The programme is accredited by the Small Business Charter and we will be supporting our business leaders to build their skills in leadership, innovation, employee engagement, marketing and financial management.
“We know from experience of delivering leadership programmes that businesses learn from each other but one of the benefits of this new programme is the one-to-one support from a mentor who will be working with business leaders to develop their growth plans.”
Professor Jon Fairburn said: “Throughout the pandemic we helped more than 80 businesses through the government-funded Small Business Leadership Programme and the overwhelming feedback was that they felt better equipped to deal with the challenges they face.”
Grace Shiel, Sales Director of Minuteman Press in Trentham was just one of the businesses to benefit from the support offered through Staffordshire University. She said: “The Small Business Leadership programme has really helped my business by giving us the tools to think differently in what has become a very challenging environment. We were given access to knowledge and information in a supported environment which has enabled us to consider what is working, what needs to change and how we can improve.”
Professor Fairburn added: “The Help To Grow Management programme is really only the start of the story as we can signpost the businesses to other funded support and training available through the University’s Innovation Enterprise Zone.”
Already, businesses across Staffordshire are benefiting from a range of short courses designed to help employees upskill in areas ranging from Managing Leadership and Performance to Business Cyber Security. The programme, part funded by the European Social Fund, invites eligible staff to access the Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities on offer.
Associate Dean of Employer Partnerships and Enterprise, Marek Hornak said: “This is a great opportunity for SMEs to develop their workforce and address any skills gaps head-on. Our microcredentials are designed around employer needs and help employees to deepen their understanding of a subject, with the opportunity to take their learning further.”
Courses starting soon include:
For more information about the Help To Grow and how to register read the blog. For more info about the short courses, contact the Employer Partnerships team on 0800 169 2148 or employers@staffs.ac.uk.