Short course
Help To Grow: Management Course
Lead the growth of your business, reach more customers and learn how to boost your profits with our 90% funded, government-backed 12-week management course delivered by Birmingham City University Business School.
Overview
Developed for senior managers of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the 12-week Help To Grow Management course is delivered through a mix of face-to-face and online sessions and helps you build and improve your practical management and leadership capabilities, enabling you to grow your business and professional expertise with confidence.
Backed and part-funded by the government, and delivered by Birmingham City Business School, the course offers an affordable, tailored and high-quality way of improving your business management approach.
Learning Outcomes
Build strong leadership and management practices through over 12 weeks of online and face to face learning with leading academics.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to review systems, processes, communication strategies and financials through our targeted modules.
Develop an effective growth plan with 1-1 support from a business mentor for you to action.
Benefit from the expertise of Birmingham City Business School academics, accredited by the UK’s Small Business Charter.
Who would benefit?
The Help To Grow: Management course is designed for senior decision makers of small or medium-sized enterprises (between 5-249 people) from any sector based in the UK. The business must have been operational for at least one year and not be a charity. Only one participant per business can attend.
Course in Depth
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
By offering a comprehensive learning programme, access to Business School experts and a supportive learning environment, Help To Grow: Management equips participants with the tools, knowledge and strategies necessary to overcome challenges, capitalise on opportunities and drive long-term growth and success for their business. Participants can expect to:
- Produce a growth plan tailored to your business with the help of an assigned mentor.
- Partake in face-to-face and online management modules, gaining insights from a diverse range of academic experts across different business fields.
- Identify drivers of productivity and growth within their market and look to translate that knowledge into actionable strategies for their business.
- Learn about responsible business practices and how to implement them.
- Learn about business innovation and how to leverage digital technologies for sustainable growth.
- Identify relevant domestic and export markets and develop strategies for market segmentation, positioning and targeting.
- Understand how to improve operational efficiencies and how to save money and time.
OUR BUSINESS SPECIALISTS
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Dr Chinny Nzekwe-Excel – Associate Professor, Enterprise and Corporate Development
Dr Chinny Nzekwe-Excel is an academic, consultant/ practitioner, and research expert in Management/ Business Development Initiatives & Repositioning Strategies, International Business, Leadership Concepts, Teaching & Learning Innovations, Work-based Learning, Operations Management Research, and Construction Management. She is a Statistics Expert; Senior Fellow (Advance Higher Education),Certified Management & Business Educator; and a Leadership and Management Professional. In addition to this, Chinny leads, manages and delivers various business and innovation programmes in the UK and overseas and has collaborated with a range of businesses and fellow education colleagues in areas including Audiology, Business, Engineering, IT, Mathematics, Public Health and Psychology.
View her full profile here.
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Dr Bruce Philp – Head of Graduate School of Management
Dr Bruce Philp has over 30 years experience in the study of business, specialising in game theory, business and society sustainability, productivity and distribution of income. Prior to studying at university, Bruce worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Bruce has been the Associate Editor for the ‘Economic Issues’ publication , and has a large amount of experience in managing innovation projects with business, working with Malthouse Engineering, Evac+Chair International and FAST. In 2021-23 he was the BCU lead on Phase 3 of the Enterprise for Success Project, a business growth programme funded through the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and European Regional Development Fund.
View his full profile here.
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Julia South – Senior Lecturer, Marketing
Julia South is a senior lecturer in Marketing at Birmingham City University with over 15 years’ experience as a lecturer and senior lecturer. Julia specialises in Marketing, Event Management, Consultancy, International Retailing and Entrepreneurship. Julia has a wealth of industry experience include being a senior manager at Marketing Birmingham and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Julia has also worked for HSBC, First Direct, NatWest, BMW, and The Body Shop. Julia is currently studying for her DBA on Higher Education and Marketing.
Schedule & Location
Dates
Onboarding – Tuesday 4 November, 10-11am (online)
Strategy & Innovation – Tuesday 4 November, 11:15-1:15pm (online)
Digital Transformation – Tuesday 11 November, 10-12pm (online)
Winning New Markets – Tuesday 18 November, 10-2pm
Vision, Mission and Values – Tuesday 25 November, 10-12pm (online)
Developing a Marketing Strategy – Tuesday 2 December, 10-12pm (online)
Building a Brand - A Case Study – Tuesday 9 December, 10-2pm
Organisational Design – Tuesday 16 December, 10-12pm (online)
Employee Engagement and Leading Change – Tuesday 6 January 2026, 10-12pm (online)
High Performance Workplace - A Case Study – Tuesday 13 January, 10-2pm
Effective Operations – Tuesday 20 January, 10-12pm (online)
Finance and Financial Management – Tuesday 27 January, 10-12pm (online)
Implement Growth Plans - A Case Study – Tuesday 3 February, 10-2pm
LOCATION
The course is a mix of sessions delivered online via Microsoft Teams and case study sessions delivered face to face at our Birmingham City Centre Campus in the Curzon Building.
Fees and enrolment
Level: Short course
Cost: £750 (inc VAT)
If you’re interested in finding out more about this course or would like to sign up directly for our next course, please sign up today, or register your interest and we’ll be in touch with more information.
Customer testimonials
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Peter Davies, CEO, James Lister and Sons Limited
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Jordan Ram, Manager, Jordhan Industries
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Rob Arnold, Group Business Manager, Greyville Enterprises Ltd
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Nathan Retzer, Director, Quarter Horse Coffee