University of Southampton Business School rolls out highly anticipated course for SMEs

The University of Southampton Business School (SBS) has this month (December) launched its 'Help to Grow: Management' course.

The programme runs for 12 weeks until March and is aimed at SMEs - enabling business leaders to identify more efficient ways of working and targeting new markets.

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It combines a mix of live and on-demand online content with in-person learning.

Gillian Saieva, associate professor and director of executive education, said the new programme underscored the school's engagement across the wider university, city, and region in recruiting a diverse range of SME businesses to the course.

"This includes a local business that’s already engaged with the university on an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership, further benefitting from our reach to better align their business for further growth.

Additionally, we have recent local and national award winners, university suppliers, and alumni setting out on their growth journey together," she said.

One joiner to the programme is Frankie Peck who wants to fast-track her transition into the world of small business leadership.

"Having just joined my father’s agency - Southampton based Lee Peck Media after a 10-year career in the BBC and latterly on the Politics South Show, both Lee and I have signed up for Help to Grow. The big advantage of the course is that it will allow us to work on the business rather than in the business," she said.

Also joining the course is Gareth Evans, alumnus, and co-founder of Poole-based Sentinel Unmanned, which is bringing innovative and cost-effective change to small unmanned aerial systems.

"The programme has been designed to include both online and in-person elements, making it possible to participate alongside my everyday business workload. It's a great opportunity to learn through working on our own business case," he said.

Southampton Business School was awarded the Small Business Charter earlier this year and joined the UK-wide team of business schools to deliver the government-supported programme, which provides the tools needed to grow businesses.

The UK government subsidises the course for business owners, leaders, or senior managers from all business sectors, although charities are not eligible.

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