Help to Grow training for SMEs

Help to Grow Management training for SMEs

Apply now for our Government-funded Help to Grow Management course at Kent Business School. This expert-led, 12-week executive training course is for senior SME leaders and decision makers.

Develop an effective business strategy, grow your organisation and boost your profits

Help to Grow Management is a 12-week management course for senior leaders and decision makers in small and medium businesses. It will help you better manage, grow and successfully take your business to the next level.

Our course is accredited by the Small Business Charter (SBC) and developed in collaboration with industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs. It is delivered by Kent Business School, a top 1% worldwide business school with a triple EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditation.

Help to Grow Management is 90% funded by the Government and costs just £750.  

We are currently not recruiting for this course. To find out more about our next cohorts or talk to us about your training needs, complete this form or email us at gllpdt@kent.ac.uk.

Join us now to unlock your potential, boost your growth, and take your business to the next level.

Delivery is flexible to complement full-time work, and combines face-to-face and online attendance.

It consists of 12 workshops, 8 peer group sessions, 50 hours of learning and 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring. Designed for business executives, this course has a hands-on evidence-based approach, and includes real-world case studies. 

By the end of it, you will be able to identify and better navigate the challenges your business faces, and develop a concrete business growth plan for your specific business needs.  

This course is ideal for both established businesses and start-ups, and beneficial for every industry. Completing it gives you access to our alumni network and further development opportunities, including CPD-accredited courses.

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cash-pound

90%

funded by the government, and there is only a one-time fee of £750

group-work

12 weeks

50 hours of learning and 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring.

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Triple-crown

accredited by EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA placing us in the top 1% of Business Schools  

Find out more

  • For businesses with 5-249 employees in operation for 1+ years.
  • Open to all industry sectors (note: charities are not eligible).
  • Depending on their size, businesses can enrol more than one delegate.
  • Delegates must be members of the senior management or decision makers within their businesses.
  • Attendance at the Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP) does not affect eligibility.

This course covers four essential business management areas:

  • Strategies for growth and innovation
  • Engaging with customers
  • Building a sustainable and agile business
  • Operations and financial strategies

Delivery consists of:

  • 8 x two-hour online sessions (two for each business management area)
  • 4 x half-day in person workshops (one for each business management area)
  • 8 x one-hour small peer group calls
  • 10 hours 1:1 mentoring sessions

= Total of 50 hours spread over 12 weeks.

By the end of this course, you will develop a business growth plan tailored to your specific business needs, which will help you overcome your challenges and achieve your goals.

Location: Room M3-04, Medway Building, Medway Campus.

Address: Medway Building, Medway Campus, The University of Kent, Central Ave, Gillingham, Chatham ME4 4AG.

Map: see here

In-person sessions: Wednesday 27-11-2024, 15-01-2025, 12-02-2025 and 19-03-2025, from 9:00 until 14:00.

Teas & coffees and light lunch will be provided.

Free onsite parking can be booked – please contact gllpdt@kent.ac.uk noting your vehicle’s registration number.

Online sessions: MS Teams link will be provided.  

Our work is driven by a responsibility to create a world that is both socially and environmentally sustainable. We are:

  • A top 1% Business School with a triple accreditation by EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA
  • A hub for world-leading experts invested in innovation and enterprise
  • Conveniently located in the South East and near London
  • Extensively linked with a range of industries and partners
  • Experienced in executive business education and professional development.

By collaborating with us, you will:

  • Obtain knowledge of how businesses operate that is both conceptually advanced and directly applicable
  • Identify, understand and develop concrete ways to tackle the challenges your business faces in order to grow
  • Receive well-informed and up-to-date support by experts, peers and a range of professionals
  • Have access to multiple networking opportunities and alumni events
  • Have access to further bespoke training we can design with you to meet your business needs, as well as apprenticeships, professional degrees and CPD accredited courses.

"The course content in digital adoption was what we were looking for and no one could deny the value for money. The modules we have done […] have really helped us as a business, we have lots of strengths, but it is good to get other perspectives. [The] course has taught us to open our minds." J. Mason, CEO of Onyx Fire& Security, Dartford

"Having run my own business for 5 years, I felt it was time to invest in myself. We talked about strategy and innovation, digital adoption, internationalisation and winning new markets. It is great to know that there are so many other business owners struggling with the same challenges." Cyber engineer Director, Rochester

"I loved the comprehensive content, the skill of the tutors, the group exercises, the comprehensive notes, the peer group sessions, the mentor support. The course was inspiring and helped me identify where change was needed [and] give me the confidence to prioritise, navigate and implement change." Volunteering group CEO, Deal