SBS and HIT Scotland unveil new executive finance programme for hospitality leaders
The UK hospitality sector is being urged to strengthen financial capability at leadership level, as HIT Scotland and Strathclyde Business School unveil two new two-day Executive & Leadership programmes designed specifically for operational business leaders working across the Scottish Hospitality & Tourism sector who don’t have a traditional finance background.
With rising costs, ongoing margin pressure and an increasingly complex trading environment, financial management control is no longer confined to finance teams. Hospitality leaders, particularly those who have worked their way up through the ranks with little or no finance training, often lack the confidence and practical skills required to fully interpret financial data and use it to drive business performance. However, the new programmes have been developed to address this growing gap, drawing on the academic excellence of Strathclyde Business School’s internationally recognised MBA programme.
The first programme - Finance and Financial Management for Decision Makers - will take place in Glasgow on May 19 and 20 and again in September. It has been designed for departmental managers, operational leaders, functional heads, small business owners and aspiring senior leaders. The two-day programme is tailored specifically for those without a formal finance background, but who are responsible for the day-to-day development and management of budgets, financial performance and / or commercial outcomes.
A second programme - Finance and Financial Management for Executives - has also been developed. Taking place on June 9 and 10, it is aimed at senior executive roles, moving beyond operational financial decision making to focus on sources of funding, capital budgeting (investment appraisal), mergers and acquisitions and financial governance. Applications for both programmes are now open.
Dave Allen, Programme Director at HIT Scotland, who is responsible for the delivery of the organisation’s Executive and Leadership programmes, said, “Accounting and financial management sit at the heart of day-to-day hospitality decision-making, from understanding costs and managing budgets to improving profitability and long-term sustainability.
“These programmes, developed in partnership with Strathclyde Business School, provide a practical, applied framework to help participants confidently interpret financial information, challenge assumptions and make informed, strategically aligned decisions that enhance operational performance.
“Through a combination of expert-led teaching and real-world hospitality application, participants will develop an understanding of core financial concepts including profit and loss, balance sheets and cash flow, alongside the ability to analyse financial performance through profitability, liquidity and efficiency measures.”
Dr Mark Johnson, Teaching Fellow – Accounting and Finance at Strathclyde Business School, said, “Financial literacy is now an essential leadership capability across hospitality. Managers are making decisions every day that directly impact profitability, yet many have never been formally trained in how to interpret or apply financial data.
“The programmes have been designed to demystify finance and give hospitality leaders the tools, frameworks and confidence they need to understand performance, challenge assumptions and drive stronger commercial outcomes.
“It’s not about turning managers into accountants – it’s about enabling better, more informed decision-making across the business.”
The programmes form part of HIT Scotland’s Executive Leadership Programme and Strathclyde Business School’s executive education portfolio, which focuses on delivering practical, industry-relevant learning that can be immediately applied in the workplace.
The June programme is still taking applications with a deadline of May 18 - click here for further information.
Published: 13 May 2026
