Helping grow the businesses of the future

A new course is aiming to solves those issues. Delivered by the University of Salford Business School, Help to Grow: Management takes place over twelve weeks, with new courses starting throughout the year. Teaching includes both online and face-to-face sessions with leading figures from industry and experienced entrepreneurs.

The programme covers several key areas of leadership, including strategy and innovation, growing national and international markets and adopting digital technology. It is open to all businesses with between 5 and 249 employees and 90% of the costs are covered by Government funding, leaving business to pay just £750. To reserve your place on the next course starting on September 5, you can either register your interest or contact Richard Magennis at sbs-enterprise@salford.ac.uk for more details. 

Among the business leaders who have taken advantage of the course already is Susan Witterick, Director of dBx Acoustics Ltd. Her Manchester based company, which provides high quality acoustic design and advice to clients across the UK, is looking to double in size from its current five employees over the coming two years. Susan took part in the course to gain help in implementing that growth agenda.

She said: “It covers a lot of ground, and the focus on why we do what we do was really, really good. I've come out of it with a growth plan and I've started implementing things already which will help the company for years to come.

“We were planning for growth, sitting and thinking about where we want to be and how we’re going to get there and this course has really helped to crystalise those ideas.

“It’s about changing the mindset from a start up to an established company, for example some jobs that we would have done when we were a start-up might not be worth our while now and the course helped me to recognise that.

“It’s been thought provoking and motivating I’ve already recommended it lots of people. It is absolutely value for money and it’s on me to now sit down and implement it.”

And Jeremy Elson, Managing Director of Holmfirth-based Burton safes also found the course invaluable. His company creates safe deposit boxes, safes and other security solutions. The company employs 60 people and has ambitious growth plans.

But like lots of business leaders Jeremy has faced a recruitment problems post pandemic.

He said: “The course has really made me think about sides of the business I hadn’t considered before.

“It’s made me think about the operational side of the business a lot more, how we can make efficiencies.

“But it has also made me consider how we can deal with recruitment problems as we look to grow as part of our five-year plan.

“We have had a recruitment challenge for the last few months and I’m keen to develop links with education centres and create apprenticeships in areas of the business and invest in young talent. If we can get the right people into the business then hopefully they would stay with us for the long term.

“And as a direct result of the course I’m reviewing our mission statement and then putting a roadmap together around introducing new technology but also improving the culture of the business.

“I’ve been in business for 21 years and I’m still learning lots. It’s been good value for money for sure.”