Funded Business Training

Business leaders of SMEs can apply now for 90% Government-funded professional training. In just 12 weeks, you can boost your business growth and learn from experts at the triple accredited Kent Business School.

Help to Grow Management is a 12-week practical management training course designed to support senior managers and decision makers of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to develop an effective business strategy, grow their organisation and boost their profits.

Applications now open

Applications are now open and registration is required to secure your place in the November 2024 cohort.

The course is offered by Kent Business School in partnership with the Small Business Charter. It is 90% subsidised by the Government and costs just £750. It is designed to complement full-time work and offers 50 hours of learning and 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring.

Help to Grow Management is ideal for both established businesses and startups. Companies from any industry are eligible to apply if they employ 5-249 employees and have been in operation for 1+ years.

‘The course content in digital adoption was what we were looking for and no one could deny the value for money,’ explains Joseph Mason, CEO of Onyx Fire and Security, based in Dartford. ‘The modules we have done so far have really helped us as a business, we have lots of strengths, but it is good to get other perspectives. In a sense, the course has taught us to open our minds.’

‘Having run my own business for five years, I felt it was time to invest in myself,’ says another local cyber security CEO. ‘We talked about strategy and innovation, digital adoption, internationalisation and winning new markets. It is great just to know that there are so many other business owners in the same boat as I am, struggling with the same challenges.’

 
Kent Business School Help to Grow Management tackles real business challenges. It will help you develop:

• Leadership skills
• Strategies for growth and innovation
• Strategies for marketing, positioning and targeting
• A business growth action plan tailored to your specific goals and needs
• Better employee engagement
• Digital innovation
• Operational and financial efficiency
• Networks with regional and national businesses and industry experts

By the end of it, business leaders will be able to identify and better navigate the challenges of their businesses, making them more competitive and resilient.

As a CEO of a volunteering group in Deal explained:  ‘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 it helped me identify where change was needed, as well as give me the confidence to prioritise, navigate and implement change.’

Eligibility criteria for the Help to Grow Management course apply, and the Kent Business School offers a range of opportunities for professional business development based on individual needs.

Find out more about Help to Grow Management and the University of Kent’s tailored professional training offer here.