A new online training course for small business leaders – called Help to Grow: Management Essentials – has been launched by the Government.
The free self-guided course has been designed to offer practical advice and resources for small business leaders and is an introductory version of the full Help to Grow: Management course launched in spring 2021. It’s targeted at those leading newer or smaller SMEs, or those interested in understanding the principles of business growth and management before embarking on the full course.
The Help to Grow: Management Essentials course consists of three modules and is delivered through a series of short videos on the following topics:
- Uncover your business potential and set your goals
- Step up to the next level – strategies for growth
- From ideas to action – pulling it all together
As a digital option the online version works as a streamlined taster session and can also be accessed by businesses with fewer than five employees, who were otherwise ineligible for the full course. It may also offer a more flexible option, recognising the busy lives of small business owners, who may otherwise struggle with committing to a full 12-week intensive course.
The ‘Help to Grow’ campaign was launched to create a one-stop shop for SMEs, offering resources for business owners to help position them for growth. The longer Help to Grow: Management course, which can be accessed at 60 business schools across the UK, provides support including a one-to-one matched mentor who can offer practical support on how to apply the theory to real business situations. It runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions and peer networking with up to 25 other business leaders.
The courses have been created by experts at Small Business Charter accredited business schools. The full course delivers 50 hours of support and, is 90% funded, costing £750 per person.
More information about both the full course, and the new digital only option, is available at https://smallbusinesscharter.org/