Help to Grow - Management Course
Delivered locally by University of Brighton, School of Business & Law
12-week, 90% government-funded leadership course for ambitious SME leaders
What is Help to Grow: Management?
Help to Grow: Management is a nationally backed programme aimed at business owners, senior leaders and managers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It helps develop the skills, strategies and networks you need to scale, innovate, and build resilience.
Delivered locally by the University of Brighton, the course combines online and in-person learning with peer groups, one-to-one mentoring, and a growth action plan tailored to your business.
In Brighton, past cohorts have run in both Brighton and Crawley, and the University recently celebrated its 250th local business leader completing the programme.
Why join through Brighton?
- Local relevance and network – You’ll interact with businesses in Sussex and the South East, building connections and exchanging insights.
- Proven track record – Brighton has delivered the programme successfully, with strong local case studies and alumni.
- Flexible format – Designed to fit around your current workload, mixing online with some in-person workshops.
- Access to expertise and mentoring – You’ll receive support from experienced academics and business mentors to help implement your growth plan.
Who is eligible?
You can apply if:
- Your business is based in the UK
- You employ between 5 and 249 people
- You have been trading for at least one year
- You are a senior decision-maker in the organisation (e.g. Managing Director, CEO, Director, Head of Department) with at least one direct report
Businesses with more than 10 employees can often send two people onto the course, to spread the learning.
What you’ll learn and how it works
Over 12 weeks, you’ll cover 12 core modules across four key themes: strategy and innovation; engaging with customers; building a sustainable business; and operations and finance.
The learning is structured to be practical and applicable from day one:
- Around 50 hours of structured learning (a mix of online and in-person sessions)
- Around 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring with a business mentor, tailored to your business challenges
- Peer group sessions to exchange experience with other SME leaders
- A growth action plan you will design and commit to implementing
By the end of the programme, you’ll leave with a bespoke, actionable plan you can start executing immediately.
Cost and funding
- The programme is 90% funded by the government, so you pay only £750 for the full 12-week course.
- The full equivalent value of the training is much higher (often quoted as around £7,500).
- You pay the participant cost; universities and mentors deliver the rest under the government subsidy.
Benefits you can expect
Participants of Help to Grow report:
- Increased confidence in leadership, decision-making and strategic planning
- Enhanced productivity, efficiency and innovation
- Better engagement with customers and improved financial acumen
- A tangible, implementable growth plan tailored to your business
- Access to alumni networks, continued peer support, and future learning opportunities
Brighton’s programme marked a milestone in 2025 when its 250th business leader graduated.
How to enrol and next steps
- Check eligibility – see the criteria above.
- Register interest or apply – you can find course registration and next cohort details via the University of Brighton’s professional development pages.
- Attend an information session – the University often offers sessions to explain the course and help you decide if it’s right for you.
- Accept your place and commit – participants must commit to attending all modules and mentoring sessions.
- Start learning and implement your plan.
For the most up-to-date cohort dates, application deadlines, and FAQs, visit the University of Brighton’s Help to Grow webpage.
