Help to Grow: Management Course

Explore how innovation and strategic thinking can help your business stay competitive and relevant in a rapidly changing market. You'll review your current business model and identify opportunities to create more value for your customers and drive sustainable growth.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand the role of innovation in small business growth, profitability, and productivity.
• Have reviewed your business model and value proposition.
• Recognise how innovation can support recovery and resilience.
• Find out about external support available to help you innovate and grow.

Discover how embracing digital tools and using data more effectively can drive productivity, streamline operations, and give your business a competitive edge. This module will help you identify the right areas to digitise and prepare for the challenges of implementation.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Identify parts of your business where automation could add value.
• Understand how to use data analytics to support better decision-making.
• Be aware of common cybersecurity risks and how to protect your business.
• Recognise and address the practical challenges of adopting digital solutions.

Learn how other businesses have successfully entered new markets — including overseas — by adapting their business models and strategies. This module offers practical insights into different market entry approaches and how international growth can spark further innovation.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand how SMEs have developed new and international markets.
• Explore different models for entering and operating in overseas markets.
• Recognise how internationalisation can drive innovation and business development.
• Gain ideas to inform your own market expansion plans.

Define what your business stands for — and why it matters. This module explores how a clear vision, purpose and brand identity can strengthen customer loyalty, shape company culture, and guide strategic decisions.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand the strategic importance of vision, purpose, brand, and customer value proposition.
• Review and refine your current vision, mission, and values statements.
• Define the key elements of your brand and how they create value for customers.
• Recognise how a strong purpose and brand can improve employee engagement and internal culture.

Gain a clearer understanding of your customers and how to reach them effectively. This module helps you build a structured marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals and delivers a strong return on investment.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Refine your customer value proposition to better meet customer needs.
• Understand how to segment your market and target the right audiences.
• Explore the buyer decision process and how to adapt your marketing and sales approach.
• Learn how to measure and improve the return on your marketing efforts.

Explore how a successful business built and sustained a strong brand while adapting to changing customer needs and market conditions. This case study highlights the challenges faced, the decisions made, and how the company stayed true to its purpose and values through growth and change.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Gain real-world insight into how strong brands are built and maintained.
• Understand how to respond to change without losing brand integrity.
• Reflect on how purpose, values and customer focus drive long-term brand success.
• Take inspiration to strengthen your own brand strategy.

Ensure your business is set up to grow. This module explores how to structure your organisation for agility, productivity, and future success — including how to manage knowledge, support remote or hybrid teams, and prepare your people for change.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Identify the key growth stages and the organisational changes they require.
• Understand the benefits and challenges of different business structures and working models.
• Review the roles, skills, and training your team needs to grow and adapt.
• Explore how to support digital adoption through effective structures and processes.

Lead with purpose and inspire your team through change. This module focuses on how to engage and motivate people, build a positive culture, and lead in ways that drive performance, productivity, and wellbeing.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand how your personal leadership style can influence business success.
• Explore practical tools to engage, motivate and support your team.
• Develop inclusive leadership approaches that support diversity and wellbeing.
• Strengthen your strategic decision-making to lead change with confidence and agility.

Discover how a successful business achieved growth by putting its people first. This case study shows how investing in employee engagement, inclusion and workplace culture can drive performance, productivity and long-term success — not just through what a company offers, but how it operates.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand the impact of culture on business performance and growth.
• Gain insight into creating an inclusive, motivated and high-performing team.
• Reflect on how your own workplace practices can unlock greater potential.
• Take inspiration to build a culture that supports both people and business goals.

Learn how to align your day-to-day operations with your broader business and marketing strategy to deliver consistent value to customers. This module helps you take a systems-thinking approach, identify points of disruption, and strengthen your supply chains and partnerships.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Understand how operations contribute to your business goals and customer value.
• Map your operations using value flow analysis to identify inefficiencies and opportunities.
• Explore key metrics and team-driven approaches to continuous improvement.
• Recognise the role of digital tools and resilient supply chains in supporting growth.

Build your confidence with the numbers that matter. This module helps you understand financial statements, cash flow forecasting, and growth funding — giving you the tools to make informed decisions, plan ahead, and access the right support when needed.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Use key financial data and metrics to monitor growth, productivity, and performance.
• Understand how to forecast cash flow and use it to manage uncertainty or recovery.
• Identify suitable options to finance business growth from internal and external sources.
• Know where to find trusted financial advice and support tailored to SMEs.

Learn from the journey of a successful business leader who has built a responsible, innovative, and resilient company. This case study explores the real-world strategies, networks, and decisions that enabled sustainable growth — and how you can apply similar approaches in your own business.

By the end of this module, you will:

• Gain insight into how a growth strategy is developed and delivered in practice.
• Understand the role of networks, partnerships and support in scaling a business.
• Identify the mindset and behaviours that enable responsible leadership and innovation.
• Reflect on how to shape and implement your own growth plan effectively.