RUNNING a successful business can be demanding, lonely and toilsome, especially in this tough economic climate. So how do organisations secure that competitive edge?  

Numerous businesses are turning to the Help to Grow (HTG) management course to boost their leadership skills, enhance innovation, productivity, and operational efficiency at work. The 12-week-course equips SME leaders and senior managers with key skills in strategic planning, employee engagement, finance, and marketing. Not to mention a bespoke business growth plan.

Designed to work around your full-time work and personal commitments, participants need only dedicate a mere four hours a week to the course. Participants can expect both online and face-to-face training, one-to-one mentoring, and peer support, alongside a small cohort of other business leaders who become part of a trusted support network. Moreover, the course is 90 per cent Government funded, so you only pay £750 to attend.

“I would recommend the programme because it is a relatively short-term commitment for a lifetime’s worth of benefit: business education, peer support and one-to-one tailoring all in 12 weeks.”

Jo Smith, Goalgetter Founder, Executive Coach & Mentor

Goalgetter Founder and MD, Jo Smith, is passionate about helping business leaders perform better through her executive coaching, supervision, training, and consultancy organisation. Jo recently scooped the Innovation Award for her exceptional HTG mentoring skills at the Leeds University Business School (LUBS) during The National Mentoring Matters Awards 2023.

“It is incredibly rewarding working with HTG for lots of reasons,” said Jo. “The first is that if you grow a business, then you grow a community. SMEs have a fantastic ripple effect: supporting other local businesses, creating jobs, regenerating communities.”

As well as being a great way to absorb lots of business-related information, Jo said that participants particularly valued working alongside other business owners.

“The second is that LUBS have ensured that this is a top-notch programme that I’m proud to be associated with. They have a proven track record of excellent SME programmes and we’re able to add all that experience to the HTG programme to make it a truly transformative experience for participants and their businesses.

“The growth and success stories are many,” she said. “I find it fascinating being involved with such a wide variety of businesses both in terms of stages of maturity as well as different sectors of the economy. I am currently working with a craft brewery and a tech start up!

“In my peer-to-peer sessions, I facilitate discussions in small groups about an ‘issue of the week’, enabling business owners to pick each other’s brains about whatever is top of their agenda. This could be anything from advice on how to do a sales pitch to top tips for a new starter’s induction. I would recommend the programme because it is a relatively short-term commitment for a lifetime’s worth of benefit: business education, peer support and one to one tailoring all in 12 weeks.”

According to a recent HTG evaluation report, a whopping 91 per cent of course completers said they would be likely to recommend the course to other business leaders. And two-thirds said they would be very likely to do so.

The study also showed that participants on the course had “very high regard” for the mentoring element of the programme. In fact, the mentoring proved to be a key factor in helping participants put their newfound skills into practise at work.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for small business owners and senior managers to catapult their business to that next stage of growth.”

Andrew Welsh, Blueberry’s Senior Account Manager

Andrew Welsh, Blueberry’s Senior Account Manager, spearheads our in-house training and staff development programmes. He believes that not only does the HTG course help to breathe new life into businesses, but it also enables them to deal with challenges head on.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for SME business leaders and managers to catapult their business to that next stage of growth,” he said. “Participants get access to a mentor programme run by industry experts with experience in supporting SME growth. With their mentors’ help, organisations develop a custom-made growth action plan to support its growth trajectory, increase its resilience and realise its full potential. Additionally, businesses also walk away from the course with their own unique set of benefits, rewards, and advantages.

“So, whether you’re a company owner interested in business advancement, or a senior boss looking to enhance your strategic management capabilities, the value of the course can’t be overlooked,” added Andrew. “The course is taken alongside a small cohort of business leaders and managers, who become your support network. Many course participants maintain these strong and trusted networks long beyond course completion.”

Click here for more information on the HTG Management Course. And discover how Blueberry can help you meet your business growth objectives. Visit https://blueberryms.co.uk, Email: info@blueberryms.co.uk or Call: 0113 4877013.

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