SMEs across Sussex will receive continued practical business support from the University of Brighton’s Help to Grow: Management Course, thanks to renewed funding from the Department for Business & Trade.
The university will deliver three new cohorts of the course, offering more local businesses the chance to gain essential tools to accelerate sustainable growth, boost leadership capability and build long-term resilience.
These new groups will run in Brighton (September 2025 and January 2026) and Crawley (November 2025), helping a larger number of local businesses access the tools they need to drive long-term success while supporting the growth of SMEs in the region.
Designed to equip business leaders and senior managers with tools to enhance leadership, employee engagement, digital adoption and change management, the government’s commitment to extend funding until March 2026 underlines the proven value and impact of the programme over the past three years – at a time when SMEs play a key role in local job creation and community development.
Since launching at the University of Brighton’s School of Business and Law, the programme has played a pivotal role in strengthening the local business community, supporting over 240 businesses employing over 9,000 people from diverse sectors, including hospitality, manufacturing, construction, food services, arts and education.
The new 2025 and 2026 cohort dates will continue to equip SMEs with tools to drive sustainable growth and will include expert-led workshops, personalised mentoring and bespoke action plans tailored to the unique needs of each business.
The Brighton cohort launches on 11 September 2025, followed by the Crawley cohort on 8 November 2025 and another Brighton cohort on 6 January 2026.
Dr Adam Jones, programme director of Help to Grow: Management at the University, said: “At the University of Brighton, we are proud to continue supporting local SMEs through the government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course.
“Following our success in helping over 200 businesses, we have secured additional funding to assist more SME leaders.
“The programme has been transformative, enabling leaders to develop effective growth strategies, and we are honoured to be among the Small Business Charter-accredited business schools chosen for this opportunity.”
The University of Brighton’s support for SMEs goes beyond the 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course. Initiatives like Clean Growth UK, an award-winning business-innovation network, help businesses develop sustainable products, services and processes.
Businesses can also gain access to expert knowledge and specialist facilities for bespoke Research & Development projects across various programmes.
These programmes exemplify the University’s dedication to bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation, sustainability and economic prosperity across the region.
