Help to Grow: Management Course

Overview

The Help to Grow: Management Course is a practical management training course delivered by Lancaster University Management School and other world-class business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter. The course is designed to support senior leaders in developing their strategic leadership skills and boosting their business's long-term growth.

Course Details

• The course is 12 weeks long and includes:
  • Eight facilitated online two-hour sessions
  • Four face-to-face practical and interactive case study workshops
  • One-to-one mentor support (up to 10 hours)
  • Access to the alumni programme featuring events with inspirational speakers, business clinics, and networking events
• The course covers key modules, including:
  • Strategies for Growth and Innovation
  • Engaging with Customers
  • Building a Sustainable and Agile Business
  • Operations and Financial Strategies

Modules 1-3: Strategies for Growth and Innovation

Module 1: Strategy and Innovation

1. Understanding innovation and its relationship to growth, profitability, and productivity
2. Reviewing your business model and value proposition in relation to current and future market opportunities
3. Understanding how business model innovation can help you respond and recover from challenges
4. Finding out about the UK's innovation ecosystem

Module 2: Digital Transformation

1. Understanding the benefits of digital adoption for SMEs in innovating business models and seizing opportunities
2. Considering what stage your business has reached on the path to digital adoption from digitalisation to digital transformation, and identifying priority development areas
3. Understanding the role of digital leadership and considering digital enablers to achieve a transformational culture
4. Being alert to the risks of a digitised environment and ways to mitigate risk

Module 3: Winning New Markets

• Taking an in-depth look at how a business has innovated its model, developed markets overseas, explored models to address opportunities in different countries, adapted their business model, and overcame challenges

Modules 4-6: Engaging with Customers

Module 4: Vision, Mission and Values

1. Understanding the strategic value of vision, purpose, and brand, their link to the customer value proposition, and role in achieving competitive advantage
2. Exploring vision, mission, and values statements and planning an approach for reviewing these in business
3. Defining brand components and how they add value to your business and customers
4. Understanding the role of your business's vision, values, and brand in organisational culture and employee engagement

Module 5: Developing a Marketing Strategy

1. Further developing your customer value proposition and your business's approach to marketing
2. Understanding market segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) within your business's competitive environment
3. Considering the stages in the buyer decision-making processes
4. Starting to consider the benefits of database marketing

Module 6: Building a Brand Case Study

• Exploring how a business built a market-leading brand and continued to serve its customers' needs through changing times

Modules 7-9: Building a Sustainable and Agile Business

Module 7: Organisational Design

1. Identifying growth phases and when and how it will be necessary to evolve the shape of the organisation to implement growth
2. Considering SME examples of different structures and ways of working and the implications for your workforce
3. Jointly with others in your business, reviewing skills, roles, and training to ensure the required expertise is available to deliver the growth plan
4. Considering structures and processes to facilitate agile working

Module 8: Employee Engagement and Leading Change

1. Identifying appropriate strategies for leading change in an inclusive and engaging way
2. Planning to implement approaches that enhance employee engagement
3. Recognising the impact of your own leadership approach as a key enabler for growth
4. Being able to utilise tools and resources collaboratively to lead your team towards strategic goals

Module 9: High-Performance Workplace Case Study

• Exploring an example of a company that has put employee engagement at the heart of their business and created an inclusive culture

Modules 10-12: Operations and Financial Strategies

Module 10: Effective Operations

1. Understanding the role of operations and how to take a systemic approach, aligning operations with marketing strategy
2. Analysing operations using a value flow map
3. Considering an approach to key metrics which engages teams and creates a culture of continuous improvement in value flow

Module 11: Finance and Financial Management

1. Using financial data to make informed decisions about future operations, including identifying relevant financial metrics for monitoring growth and productivity
2. Understanding the importance of cash flow forecasting in managing crisis and recovery
3. Considering options for financing growth both internally and from external sources, and being aware of where to source information and advice

Module 12: Implementing Growth Plans Case Study

1. Developing priorities and a timeline for implementation, using your Growth Action Plan
2. Identifying the resources required to achieve the objectives in your Growth Action Plan
3. Embedding key management practices critical to growth and productivity in your business

Eligibility Criteria

To join the Help to Grow: Management Course, your business must:

• Be a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) based in the United Kingdom
• Be from any business sector, employing between 5 and 249 people
• Have been operational for at least one year
• Not be a charity

To join Help to Grow: Management, the applicant must:

• Be a decision-maker or member of the senior management team within the business
• Commit to completing all sessions

Course Cost

The fee for the Help to Grow: Management Course is Ł750 for the whole programme. The remaining 90% of the course costs are funded by the UK Government. The second participant from the same company will also be 90% funded by the government, so each participant will only pay Ł750.

Lancaster University

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Overview:

Lancaster University is a public research university located in Lancaster, England. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK and is recognized for its high-quality teaching, research, and student experience.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

Lancaster University offers a vibrant and diverse campus experience. Students can enjoy a range of facilities, including a library, sports center, and arts venues. The university also has a strong sense of community, with a variety of student societies and clubs to join.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

High Rankings and Reputation:

Lancaster University is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK, demonstrating its academic excellence.

Excellent Teaching and Learning:

The university is known for its high-quality teaching and learning, with a focus on student engagement and support.

Vibrant Student Life:

Lancaster University offers a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities, including sports, societies, and arts events.

Beautiful Campus:

The university is situated on a beautiful campus with modern facilities and green spaces.

Strong Career Support:

Lancaster University provides excellent career support services to help students prepare for their future careers.

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Academic Programs:

Lancaster University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including: * Arts and Social Sciences * Health and Medicine * Management School * Science and Technology