More than 10,000 business leaders across the UK, including over 1,500 in the South East, have enrolled on the Help to Grow: Management Course to provide them with the knowledge and confidence to boost their business performance.
Newly released Department for Business and Trade data shows 1,560 business leaders in the South East have enrolled on the 12-week course.
The 90% government-funded programme was launched in April 2021 to help business leaders and senior managers increase resilience, innovation and growth within their organisations.
It comprises 12 modules, which have been updated multiple times since launching to ensure they continue to address the changing challenges that SME leaders face.
The course includes 10 hours of 1-2-1 business mentoring, peer learning and access to a dedicated alumni network for ongoing support and development.
Across the UK as a whole, 10,635 business leaders have enrolled on the Help to Grow: Management Course as of 30 September 2024. Of these, two in five (38%) identified as female and 14% are from an ethnic minority background, compared to 18% and 6% in the wider business population.
Delivered by 62 Small Business Charter accredited business schools across the UK, it is available to South East business leaders at the University of Brighton, School of Business and Law; Canterbury Christ Church University, Christ Church Business School; Kent Business School; Oxford Brookes Business School; Portsmouth Business School; Southampton Business School, University of Southampton; Solent Business School, Solent University; and University of Winchester Business School.
Among the South East-based businesses with leaders who have completed the course are Spark & Bell, Woodfire Camping and Brightbulb Design.
Research by Ipsos has shown that nine in 10 UK programme completers (91%) reported improved leadership and management skills after completing the Help to Grow: Management Course. The same percentage felt they had an increased awareness of factors that drive business productivity and growth.
To date, 74% have reported that the programme increased their business’ resilience to external economic factors, and 62% have reported increased sales.
The study also points to the benefits of collaboration and networking, with the majority feeling better supported to make decisions about their business (82%) and feeling less isolated in their role as a business leader (72%).
