Regional business leaders are being urged to sign up to a new executive development programme accredited by the Small Business Charter. The University of Winchester is one of the first business schools in the UK to deliver the Government's Help to Grow: Management Scheme.
The Scheme, which is part of the UK Government's Plan for Jobs, aims to support senior managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale up as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and to hone existing and develop new skills to thrive in the post-pandemic world. Courses should cost £7,500 each, but the 90 per cent UK Government subsidy means employers will pay just £750.
Professor Martin Broad, Director of the University of Winchester Business School and Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies, said: "It is vitally important that SMEs are supported to bounce back from the pandemic and explore new opportunities. We are delighted to have been chosen by the government to deliver this new management programme. Our team of academics are committed to providing SMEs with the knowledge and skills to help them drive growth, innovate and realise their potential."
The new 12-week executive-level programme combines one-to-one mentoring with a practical curriculum taught by the University's team of business experts and experienced practitioners. It will also provide businesses with the opportunity to learn from each other, as well as providing access to an extensive network of alumni.
Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, modules cover financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, leading a high-performance workplace and digital adoption. By the end of the programme, business leaders will develop a tailored business growth plan to help their business achieve its next stage of success.
Kathy Slack OBE, Chief Executive Enterprise M3 LEP, which works to support regional economic growth, said: "I am delighted the University of Winchester's highly-regarded Business School is offering the Help to Grow: Management Scheme. Businesses are facing unique new challenges as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and we know how important innovation, diversification and the adoption of new digital technologies are in ensuring businesses can begin to grow again.
"Enterprise M3 LEP is committed to sustained economic growth and getting people the help they need. Through services like our Growth Programme alongside courses such as Help to Grow, businesses in our region can look forward to a bright future."
Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: "Seizing opportunity is what being a business leader is all about, and our Help to Grow: Management Scheme gives entrepreneurs the chance to access the very best advice on how to innovate, reach new customers and boost profits.
"The practical training scheme is 90 per cent funded by the government and designed around busy business owners' schedules, so I would encourage entrepreneurs across the UK to get involved and maximise the potential of their business."
A member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, the University of Winchester Business School enjoys an enviable reputation in the teaching of business-related programmes. An early adopter in 2008 of the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), its mission is to develop a new generation of business leaders capable of managing the complex challenges faced by business and society in the twenty-first century.
In June, the Business School was awarded the Small Business Charter Award in recognition of its support for small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and its commitment to the local economy.
The Help to Grow: Management Scheme at the University of Winchester starts on 7 September 2021.
You can book your place with the University of Winchester Business School at: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management/
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