BUNDLE: Help To Grow: Management Course
Tools & Resources
As the adage goes, 'people join companies but leave managers', so it's critical to equip those employees in senior positions with the skills they need to lead efficiently and effectively. The good news is your business may be eligible for the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management course, which provides training for senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses in a range of disciplines from strategy and innovation to employee engagement and finance management. To help you decide if the programme is right for you, here is the essential information you need to know, as well as supporting advice and resources around some of the key training areas.
Facilitated by small business experts from leading university business schools across the UK, the Help to Grow: Management course is accredited by the Small Business Charter and open to senior managers working in SMEs.
The three-month practical programme includes online and face-to-face training and short, focused sessions that allow people to complete the course alongside their day-to-day work.
The practical curriculum features:
- 8x online two-hour sessions
- 4x face-to-face case study workshops
- 10 hours of one-to-one mentor support
- Peer networking
- Access to the Alumni Network
The programme is 90% funded by the government The fee payable by participants is £750.
Courses are open for registration with a range of providers and start dates.
To join the Help to Grow: Management course, your business must:
- Be a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) based in the UK
- From any business sector, employing between 5 and 249 people
- Have been operational for at least one year
- Not be a charity
To join the Help to Grow: Management Course, the applicant must:
- Be a senior decision-maker, such as chief executive, finance director, operations director, etc (only one person per business can attend the programme)
- Commit to completing all sessions
Click below on some of the key areas of leadership that the Help to Grow: Management course covers and you'll find some advice and support from the UMi Sat Nav to help to get started.
1
Strategy and innovation
Introduction to succession planning
If you’re fortunate enough to have grown a business that is going to be around long after you’ve retired, then it’s important to think about succession planning. This is the process of identifying and growing talent to fill leadership and business-critical positions, and it’s used in both large and small companies. Here, we discuss what a succession plan should include and explain why it’s important to make one.
Find out more.
How to use innovation to grow your business
The most effective businesses are constantly innovating their products and processes to ensure they’re meeting market demand and running as effectively as possible. But for a lot of businesses, innovation can seem like an abstract concept that only the Googles and Teslas of the world can benefit from. But this couldn’t be any further from the truth. In this short guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what innovation is and a few ways you can start implementing it in your business today.
2
Digital adoption
Digital transformation - what it means and how it can benefit your business
There’s no doubt that digital transformation has the power to change the way businesses operate, but what exactly does it mean and what do business leaders need to consider? Here, Dan Cooper, founder of Lolly Co and digital transformation expert, shares his expertise with UMi.
Your essential digital glossary
In the world of digital, there is a dizzying array of names, terms and acronyms that you might come across. But if you can’t tell your PNG from your PDF, don’t worry. Simply download our essential digital glossary where we explain all the technical jargon.
3
Internationalisation and winning new markets
An introduction to exporting products
Finding new international markets for your products can help you increase revenue and business resilience. Here, we explain how exporting works and what rules you must follow when selling abroad.
Trading internationally
In today’s globalised economy, international trade is something many businesses are actively pursuing. Whether it be sourcing materials from abroad or selling your own products and services in foreign markets, trading overseas boasts many benefits. Here, we talk through the principles of importing and exporting and include some useful resources to help your business embrace global commerce.
Winning government contracts if you're an SME
Tendering for contracts from the public sector is not just for large multinationals or PLCs – it’s for businesses of all shapes and sizes. UK SMEs, in particular, have a great opportunity to win government contacts, not least because the government has pledged to spend £88bn procuring good and services from companies of this size. If you’re a small business, selling into the public sector brings many benefits. Here, we talk through the ins and outs of public sector tendering and explain what you can do to make your business bid ready.
4
Building a brand
How can you develop a brand?
A strong brand helps you stand out, build trust, and attract the right customers. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing what you have, this guide will help you shape a brand that reflects your values, connects with your audience, and supports your goals.
5
Developing a marketing strategy
How to write a marketing strategy
When you're planning to start a business, having a marketing strategy is crucial for getting your new enterprise off the ground – and for preparing to apply for funding. Here, we explain how to write a marketing strategy, how it informs your marketing plan, and some of the marketing channels you might consider using later.
How to create a marketing and sales plan that drives results
Your marketing strategy sets the direction – your marketing and sales plan shows how to get there. It turns big-picture goals into practical, day-to-day actions, helping you attract, convert and keep customers. A clear, focused plan also strengthens funding applications, showing you understand your market and how to grow. In this article, we’ll explain what to include, how to align your tactics with your customer journey, and how to structure your plan for success.
6
Vision, mission and values
How to create vision, mission and values statements that galvanise your team
Creating a vision, mission, and set of values is a fundamental step in laying the groundwork for any business. These elements define what the business stands for, its purpose, and how it wants to impact the world. In this article, Kirsty Waite, CEO and Founder of The Ethical Coaching Company shares a breakdown of what each term means and how to go about crafting them.
How to create a great inclusive organisational culture
With most employees spending more with our colleagues than our families, building an inclusive culture that works for all within an organisation is everyone’s responsibility and to everyone’s benefit. Here, Sid Madge, Founder of Meee, shares five ways to create a great inclusive culture.
7
Organisational design
Planning for growth
When you’re in a position to start growing your business, you may think all the hard work is done. But just as important as getting your business to the growth stage is having a clear plan in place so that you expand and prosper as per your intentions. Here, we look at strategies for growing business revenue and to actions you need to take to achieve growth.
Training your staff
Training staff is a vital part of the onboarding process. Effectively training new employees will help them settle in the company and build their confidence from day one. But training isn’t just for new hires. Training is just as important for current staff as it is for new ones, regardless of how long they have been with the company.
8
Employee engagement and leading change
Essential guide to recruitment and people management
Finding and retaining the right talent for your business can be among the most rewarding and challenging tasks you carry out as a leader. From employer branding and reward and recognition to culture development and issue-busting, there’s no shortage of things to think about. You’ll find all you need to get started in this guide to recruitment and people management.
Watch: Managing behavioural change when starting and scaling a business
There's a lot to consider when starting out and scaling a business. In this webinar, Sarah and Laura from Duo Global Consulting talk through some of the strategies for growth, including the importance of managing behavioural change and the benefits it can bring to your bottom line.
9
Implementing growth plans
Guide to writing a great business plan
The business plan is the most important document you need to produce when you’re start a business. It is the first thing potential business partners, funders and banks will look at and the thing that will keep you on the right track. Fortunately, we’ve created this comprehensive guide to writing a business plan, which you can use alongside our Business Plan Template.
10
Finance and financial management
Your free cashflow forecast template
Keeping a close eye on how much money you’ve got coming in and going out is the foundation of all business management. This is your cashflow. But simple as it sounds, it can be difficult to keep track of revenues and expenses when your business is growing. This is why we’ve put together this definitive guide to help you manage your cashflow more effectively - and a template to help you.
A brief guide to profit and loss forecasting
A profit and loss forecast is essential for measuring the financial activities of your business. In this guide, we’ll be looking at what profit and loss forecasting is and why it is important for taking your business further and achieving more.
Next steps...
If you are eligible for the Help to Grow: Management scheme, search for a course and register.
If you are not quite ready for the full course, check out the free 2 week self-guided version Help to Grow: Management Essentials. You can register your interest here.