Business leaders drive real change through growth initiative
Business leaders have been armed with tools and strategies to innovate, grow and build resilience after completing a University of Salford business support programme.
The leaders are the latest to have completed Help to Grow: Management, part of a government-backed national initiative designed to help senior decision-makers step back from day-to-day delivery and focus on productivity, leadership and long-term growth.
With small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders under growing pressure to boost productivity, manage change and adopt new technologies, the programme is designed to deliver practical, immediate impact.
Delivered by the University’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation, Help to Grow: Management has now supported 234 businesses across more than 60 sectors over the past five years. The programme combines academic insight with real-world business experience, helping leaders strengthen decision-making, improve operations and build resilience.
The latest cohort brought together SMEs from Heywood, Bolton, Salford, Manchester and Altrincham, operating across sectors including manufacturing, ICT, clean energy, creative industries and social enterprise.
Over 12 weeks, participants took part in interactive workshops, one-to-one mentoring and peer learning, using the programme to develop clear growth plans and put practical changes into action inside their organisations.
Participants reported immediate benefits, including clearer leadership roles, stronger financial and operational decision-making, more confident marketing and brand positioning, and greater readiness to adopt technology and artificial intelligence to reduce duplication and manual tasks.
Dan Quigley, owner of Dove Cleaning and Environmental Services in Altrincham, said the programme had a direct impact on how his business operates.
“The biggest value for me was being able to take what I learned straight back to my team and get everyone involved,” he said. “The problem-solving work we did helped us prioritise what matters most, from financial stability to developing the brand for the future.”
Emma Baylin, founder of Hebden Bridge-based singing and health support community interest company Shared Harmonies, said the programme created space for strategic thinking and reassurance.
“Help to Grow gave me permission to stop and think about what the business really needs, where the pinch points are, and how I can empower others to take on more of the operational delivery so I can focus on growth, partnerships and building our profile,” she said. “Having the space to talk openly with other leaders facing the same challenges was hugely reassuring and brought a real sense of optimism.”
Dr Ann Mulhaney, associate professor for Change Management at the University of Salford, said: “This cohort has been a real pleasure to work with. The calibre of leadership, openness to challenge and willingness to reflect has been exceptional. Over the 12 weeks, we’ve seen participants move from firefighting to taking confident, informed decisions about how their businesses grow, lead their people and adopt new ways of working.
“If you are an SME leader looking for the space, support and challenge to work on your business, not just in it, I would strongly encourage you to join a future cohort.”
Companies represented in the latest cohort included: Rayburn Trading Company (Heywood), Lagan’s Foundation (Bolton), Shared Harmonies C.I.C. (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire), Steel Groundworks (Morley), Thrive Group (Salford), Armour Care Services (Manchester), Common Practice Studio (Manchester), School ICT Services (Witney, Oxfordshire), SULL Systems (Bolton), Centric Support (Salford), Dove Cleaning & Environmental Services (Altrincham), SmOp Cleantech (Manchester), and Green Bean Studios (Manchester).
Help to Grow: Management is delivered through a national network of 64 accredited business schools, with the ambition to support 30,000 SMEs across the UK.
The 12-week, 50-hour programme is 90 per cent government-funded, reducing the cost to £750 per applicant. On completion, participants join a national alumni network for ongoing support and collaboration.