New research published by the Department for Business and Trade – and undertaken by Ipsos – has revealed the continued and positive impact of the Help to Grow: Management Course for UK businesses.

Delivered by Small Business Charter (SBC) accredited business schools, the 12-week course is available in more than 60 locations across the UK, with 90% of the fee participants pay covered by the government. It was founded in April 2021 to help business leaders and senior managers to increase resilience, innovation and growth within their organisations.

Among the 1,875 SME leaders who had completed the course between April and September 2023, the most commonly reported benefits included improved leadership and management of the business (92%), increased relationships between leaders and team (80%) and adoption of best practice approaches within their business (78%).

Over two thirds of business leaders surveyed also reported having made changes to their business within just six months after completing the course, with 77% rating their own firm’s capabilities in ‘leading through change and uncertainty’ as either ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’.

Critically, within six months 90% of respondents had gone on to share what they had learned or gained from participating in the programme with others in their business. Early evidence also suggests that business-level benefits continue to accrue beyond the six months post course completion.

93% of the  SME leaders who completed the programme said they were likely to recommend Help to Grow: Management to another business leader.

Flora Hamilton, Chair, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “These latest results show once again that leaders who complete the course are better equipped with the tools, knowledge and confidence that they need to lead change, innovate and grow, and this is across all sectors. Improved growth and resilience within the UK’s SMEs is critical to the wider economy. It is superb to see that the UK’s world-leading business schools through the delivery of the Help to Grow: Management Course continues to support thousands of SME business leaders in every part of the UK.”

About Help to Grow: Management

Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course designed to support business leaders and their senior managers to increase resilience, innovation and growth within their organisations.

Delivered by Small Business Charter affiliated business schools, the course is available in more than 50 locations across the UK with 90% of the fee participants pay funded via the government. It is designed to fit around existing work and personal commitments, providing business leaders with more than 50 hours of online and in person training including 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring. Individuals completing the course automatically join the Alumni Network, where they have access to exclusive events, content and partner offers, as well as the support of a UK-wide peer network.

The Small Business Charter, which oversees the Help to Grow: Management Course, is an award for the UK’s world-class business schools. The Charter was developed by Lord Young, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Chartered Association of Business Schools to celebrate business schools that play an effective role in supporting the UK’s 5.8m SMEs and their local economies.

You can find out more about the Help to Grow: Management Course here.