Starting in January 2027, Help to Grow is a 12-week programme for owners and senior leaders of small and medium-sized businesses who want to improve performance, efficiency and resilience.
Essex Business School is offering the programme after receiving Small Business Charter accreditation and the deadline for signing up is Sunday 13 December.
Dr Sahar Validi, Programme Director for Help to Grow at Essex Business School, said: “Running a business rarely leaves leaders enough time to step back, challenge their thinking and consider what needs to change. Help to Grow creates that space.
“At Essex Business School, we bring together practical business and management expertise, experienced mentors and a strong peer network. This is designed to support businesses, examine their challenges from different perspectives and turn new ideas into a clear plan of action.
“Our aim goes beyond business growth. It is about developing the strategic capacity of leaders and organisations. We want our participants to leave better able to challenge assumptions and navigate uncertainty. More importantly, we want them to be able to shape the future of their organisations rather than simply respond to it.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming businesses to Essex Business School in January, to getting to know them and their organisations and supporting them as they think about and plan for what comes next.”
What is Help to Grow?
The programme combines in-person sessions at the University’s Colchester Campus with online sessions on Microsoft Teams. Participants can fit their learning around running their business and sessions are led by industry and academic experts across four modules.
By the end of the course, each participant will have a tailored Growth Action Plan for their business, along with a toolkit for innovation, productivity and financial sustainability.
They will also learn alongside other local business owners, building a network of peers they can continue to draw on.
The programme is open to UK-based small and medium-sized businesses in any sector that employ between 5 and 249 people and have been operating for at least one year.
Businesses with 10 or more employees can send up to two participants. Charities are not eligible.
The programme has a strong track record nationally. Of those who have completed, 92% report improved leadership and management within six months and 93% would recommend it to others.
The course is 90% funded by the government, so each participant pays £750 for around 50 hours of practical leadership training, plus 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring.
Essex is one of 72 business schools across the UK and internationally to hold the Small Business Charter accreditation.
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