5 reasons to join a small business management course

Making the decision to commit to a small business management course can be daunting. But business leaders and managers from all sectors have found the knowledge and confidence they have gained from completing a small business management course invaluable in taking their business to the next level.

This is showcased in the data collected about the Help to Grow: Management Course, a course specifically designed to help small business leaders boost their productivity and resilience through a 12-week programme including 12 modules of small business-specific content, 1-2-1 mentoring and peer network sessions. Ipsos’ independent evaluation of the course found that 91% of business leaders reported greater confidence in managing their business 6 months after completion. With that in mind, let’s look at the five reasons you should join the Help to Grow: Management Course.

There is no perfect way to be a great leader, and this is partly why it is such a challenge. From managing the expectations of staff to carving out a business plan that makes an organisation sustainable, it is tough.

This is one of the clearest areas where a small business management course can help. Through the Help to Grow: Management Course, you can get insights from experts into how to make informed business decisions with confidence, which markets or services to grow and how to engage employees.

Not only do leaders have access to frameworks such as the elements of value for customers and the Four Corners Model for predicting future potential, but it enables leaders to apply these concepts before returning to their business.

This was the case for Paul Kenny, Sales Director of Aquatrust, who was introduced to a variety of tools on the course including the Business Model Canvas, the Ansoff Matrix, and Porter’s Five Forces Model. Paul comments on how the models on the course helped Aquatrust develop: 'The Help to Grow: Management Course has not only given me the confidence to lead our go-to-market strategy but also to transform Aquatrust’s service model. I was able to create an innovative approach that differentiates Aquatrust from its competitors, securing the business’ future and facilitating significant further growth.’

Since completing the course, Aquatrust has forecast its turnover to increase by 30% from £1.9 million in 2022 to £2.5

Ultimately, the Help to Grow: Management Course does more than give individuals the tools to be better leaders but also shows how to practically apply learnings so that organisations can address their problem areas.

It’s not only business experts who can help you on your journey, there is also the benefit of a peer network. Having a group of people from various industries who have experienced or are going through the same journey has proved incredibly valuable to a number of Help to Grow: Management alumni.

Paalan Sood, Founder of the marketing firm Sood Agency, discussed why he found a network so valuable: 'Unlike most networking opportunities, people aren’t trying to sell you things. These are genuinely good people who want to grow their business, and you can create a real relationship with them.

Ultimately, that means you're not lonely and you're not going through these things on your own. That’s something I loved about Help to Grow: Management.'

Opportunities to network also stretch beyond your cohort on the course to alumni events that gather business and thought leaders together. These events are continuously available to Help to Grow: Management Alumni.

Felicity Whitmore-Jones, General Manager at O’Neill Wetsuits, reflected on an event she attended in Portsmouth: 'It’s been great to take some time away from the business to connect with other leaders at this Help to Grow: Management alumni event. Discussing your company with others, and hearing about their challenges and approach, gives you a new perspective on the business.'

For those looking for advice from a more seasoned leader, the Help to Grow: Management Course provides a business mentor. A mentor will be available for ten hours of one-to-one sessions that enable you to discuss the issues you are facing, your plans for the future, and more broadly your business ideas.

The opportunity to benefit from this soundboard has been the favourite element of the course for many of our Help to Grow: Management participants.

Brandon Shiels, Managing Director of Compassion First Home Care found that his mentor helped him gain more confidence, 'it's very easy for me to feel quite secluded when it is just me and the laptop in a room. I’m second-guessing what I'm doing and my decisions to grow the business. To have the reassurance of a more experienced business person has been incredible. 

'The mentor really allows people to apply what they have learnt to their business. Brandon explains that his mentor helped him develop 'a financial forecast that I look at, and it shows the financial viability of the business. Including the return-on-investment point and the break-even point. They're all very reassuring figures to know, and I wouldn't have known any of that without the Help to Grow: Management Course.’

The cost of a small business management course and a mentor can add up quickly. With that in mind, Help to Grow: Management Alumni and Founder of Kai Interiors, Michaela Reysenn, commented: 'The value of having a mentor alone would justify the cost of the course. My business is now stronger because of my learnings.'

The Help to Grow: Management Course is 90% subsidised by the government, meaning its total cost is £750. This is a fraction of the cost of the vast majority of business courses.

Typically, an MBA will cost a participant in the UK £20,000, but these costs can reach up to £70,000 in specific schools. The Help to Grow: Management Course, while different from an MBA, offers leaders the chance to upskill or remind themselves of key business practices.

As a result, many business leaders regardless of their background have found the Help to Grow: Management Course the most affordable small business management course available.

Even with the guarantee of a tangible outcome such as a structured business plan, it can be hard to justify taking time to work on the business, rather than in the business. Fortunately, the Help to Grow: Management Course only requires 50 hours across 12 weeks to complete and business schools offer a range of online and hybrid courses across 60 locations.

When compared to an MBA that requires at least one year to complete when committed to on a full-time basis, the course enables leaders to maintain involvement in their businesses while upskilling.

Julio Pena, Director of Subway South, discussed how the course fitted in with his busy schedule: 'The Help to Grow: Management Course is quite intensive, but it’s a manageable time commitment. I spent one morning a week away from my business which allowed me to think about ways to improve it and then an additional hour with my mentor to discuss ideas.'

On the back of the course, many have seen their profits increase, their headcount grow, or even changed their delivery model. With these results in mind, the Help to Grow: Management Course could be the ideal small business management course for you.

To find out how the benefits of the Help to Grow: Management Course could impact you click here.