Strathclyde's Help to Grow programme welcomes Small Business Charter chairman
Michael Hayman, chair of the Small Business Charter, visited Strathclyde Business School on September 1 to discuss the Help to Grow programme and to meet with a number of Help to Grow alumni.
Associate Principal Professor Eleanor Shaw and John Anderson, Head of SME Growth and Board Development at Strathclyde Business School, met with Mr Hayman, showing him around the business school and sharing details of the success of the Help to Grow programme at Strathclyde. Mr Hayman was also given the opportunity to talk to a number of Help to Grow alumni about their experiences of the programme.
Help to Grow is a Government-backed management course providing 30,000 SMEs across the UK access to world-class business schools' expertise on everything from leadership to financial management and marketing. Strathclyde has run six cohorts, representing over 120 businesses from a variety of sectors, since the programme's launch in September 2021.
The programme is run by Strathclyde Executive Education and Development (SEED) in collaboration with colleagues from the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. The programme takes place face-to-face at Strathclyde Business School over twelve weeks, with particular focus on key areas related to business development, including strategy and innovation, digital adoption, marketing, employee engagement, operational excellence, and financial management. The programme is open to any small or medium-sized enterprise from any sector based in UK employing between five and 249 people which has been operational for at least one year.
The Small Business Charter is an award for the UK's world-class business schools, which celebrates those schools that have played an effective role in supporting small businesses, local economies and student entrepreneurship. Currently just over 50 business schools are accredited in this way, with Strathclyde being one of the first to be so accredited (in UK or Scotland?)
Michael Hayman, who - as well as being Small Business Charter chair - is an entrepreneur, author and co-founder of both StartUp Britain and campaigning firm Seven Hills, said, "It has been a delight to visit Strathclyde today and meet with those running the Help to Grow programme here as well as giving me the chance to sit down and talk with those who have so far benefited from this programme which offers small firms the opportunity to accelerate potential."
John Anderson said, "The Help to Grow programme at Strathclyde offers an outstanding opportunity for small business owners to enhance their management and strategic capabilities, build resilience, develop their value proposition and reach into growth markets whilst being supported by academics, and experienced business owners.
"Thanks to funding from the UK Government, the cost of the programme - at £750 per participant - provides unparalleled value to experience an in-depth curriculum at a triple accredited business school, tailored to small businesses. Taking part in the programme is an opportunity for small business owners to learn, reflect and take action to grow their own business."
Find out more about joining the Strathclyde Help to Grow programme here: https://www.strath.ac.uk/business/seed/growingyoursme/helptogrowmanagement/
