- Help to Grow: Management announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in last week’s budget
- 30,000 small business leaders to benefit from new executive development programme to be delivered by leading business schools
- Aston University experts played a significant role in development
Experts in small business and entrepreneurship from Aston University have played a significant role in developing the Government’s new national management programme for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them boost their performance, resilience and growth potential.
The new scheme, Help to Grow: Management, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in last week’s budget, will be delivered through the Small Business Charter and leading business schools.
Paula Whitehouse, associate dean enterprise and director of the Aston University Centre for Growth is the curriculum director for the new national programme. Mark Hart, professor of small business and entrepreneurship is advising Government on the development of Help to Grow: Management.
The scheme will give 30,000 small business leaders and managers the opportunity to take part in a 12-week executive development programme led by business and enterprise experts from top university business schools across the UK, featuring case studies from entrepreneurs and guest speeches from leading industry figures.
Aston University’s Centre for Growth has been supporting SMEs since 2013. Thousands of business owners and managers in the Midlands have benefited from the Centre’s business growth programmes. The experience of supporting these businesses through management development training and support networks has informed the development of the new national Help to Grow: Management programme.
All business schools delivering the programme have been accredited by the Small Business Charter, a national accreditation awarded by small businesses to business schools who excel in supporting SMEs and the local economy.
To support businesses to access the programme, the cost to attend will be subsidised by 90% by the Government as part of approximately £220 million in funding to support small business recovery and growth. Small and medium sized businesses with five to 249 employers from all industries within the economy will be eligible.
Help to Grow: Management builds on the strong evidence from existing business support schemes of the impact of improved management practices on business performance. The recent Small Business Leadership Programme has supported over 2,000 businesses through the pandemic.
The curriculum for Help to Grow: Management will be designed to support senior managers enhance their skills in areas critical to business growth including leadership, innovation, digital adoption, sustainability and employee engagement.
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Too often smaller firms don't have the time or resources to acquire the extra skills and training they need to be more efficient, more digital and more productive. Help to Grow: Management will help tens of thousands of small and medium sized businesses get world class management training. Government will contribute 90% of the cost - a real commitment to learn more, make more and earn more.”
Anne Kiem OBE, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools said: “This represents a fantastic opportunity for the nation’s small businesses to experience the first class practical support on offer in the UK’s business schools. Through evidence-informed business and management education, this timely initiative will help small business leaders to drive their businesses towards growth and give the economy, and the millions employed within it, a much-needed boost.”
Professor George Feiger, Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, commented: "We are very happy indeed that, with Government backing, many more business leaders in our region will now be able to benefit from the support we provide, support that has a long track record of raising business profitability and growth. Since 2013 when Professor Mark Hart worked with Lord Young to create the Small Business Charter, Aston University has worked hand-in-hand with the Chartered Association of Business Schools to ensure that impactful leadership and management training is accessible to small business leaders. The Enterprise Research Centre’s research has confirmed the impact of improved leadership and management skills on the performance of small businesses."
Paula Whitehouse, Curriculum Director for Help to Grow Management and Associate Dean Enterprise of the College of Business and Social Sciences commented: "As a small business leader you have to know about all the key business functions and how to optimise them to drive high performance in your business. Help to Grow: Management will combine this essential business education with the creation of a like-minded business network and support for the practical application of the learning to ensure businesses get immediate results. I am excited to be working with Small Business Charter business school colleagues all over the country to create the Help to Grow: Management curriculum and ultimately to be introducing many more business leaders from the West Midlands into Aston's vibrant entrepreneurial community."
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- Notes to editors
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.
For media enquiries in relation to this release, contact Rebecca Hume, Press and PR Officer, on 07557 745416 or email r.hume@aston.ac.uk
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