At Aberdeen Business School, we have the knowledge and expertise to help you develop the leadership and business skills you need to help boost your business performance. The Help to Grow: Management course at RGU is built around the needs of leaders like you.
The 12-week course, 90% funded by the UK Government, will support senior managers with a programme of expert led webinars, case studies, mentoring and peer-to-peer networking. You will have access to business experts and ways of thinking that will help you asses the direction of your business and put you on track for success.
Starting in January 2025, you can join other senior leaders from across Northern Scotland taking part in the practical course at RGU, accredited by the Small Business Charter. The course is suitable for SME business leaders in Northern Scotland operating across all sectors including food and drink, renewables, tourism, life sciences and oil and gas. With just one session per week, the course has been designed to fit around the workload of senior managers and you will finish the course ready to lead on the delivery of increased profitability, innovation and growth.
Our next Cohort of the Help to Grow: Management course starts on 24 January 2025. Registrations are now open.
The benefits
- Develop your leadership skills across all areas of business including strategic planning, employee engagement, finance and marketing
- Develop strategies for market segmentation, positioning and targeting to streamline your marketing approach
- Gain exclusive access to a local, regional and national peer network to share practical challenges, ideas and experiences
- Work with your mentor to develop a Growth Action Plan tailored to your business and its unique journey
- Learn how to engage employees on your business journey and plan the future structure of your organisation
- Identify new technologies and digital approaches to enhance innovation and productivity in your business model
- Improve operational efficiency to save time and money
- A course that combines interactive, online sessions with face-to-face learning to suit you
Like a jigsaw puzzle the Help To Grow: Management Course helped fill in the missing pieces in my knowledge. The face-to-face elements of the course and the contacts I made with fellow students were invaluable. I now have a clear plan in place of what we need to do to grow our business.
The course
The 12-week Help to Grow: Management course is built around a practical curriculum and will be delivered by Aberdeen Business School in partnership with local industry leaders. It will be delivered through a variety of sessions online and face-to-face, supported by mentoring and peer networking.
The course will feature:
- Eight facilitated online 2-hour sessions
- Four practical and interactive case study workshops
- One-to-one support from a mentor, providing you with personalised support to develop your business growth plan
- Peer networking, including peer group calls that give you the opportunity to share experiences with a small group of other small business leaders
- Access to the Alumni Programme featuring events with inspirational speakers, business clinics and networking events
The course will cover key areas of leadership including:
- Strategy and Innovation
- Digital Transformation
- Winning New Markets
- Vision, Mission and Values
- Developing a Marketing Strategy
- Building a Brand
- Organisational Design
- Employee Engagement and Leading Change
- High Performance Workplaces
- Effective Operations
- Finance and Financial Management
- Implementing Growth Plans
I gained a lot of learning from the peer network. The in-class and peer group discussions were great and highlighted to me that some of the challenges being faced in my Company were also being faced in others. It was great to chat through these and hear how others have made it through.
Funding and fees
This 12-week Help to Grow: Management course has been designed to fit around the workload of senior managers. The course is 90% funded by the UK Government - the fee payable by participants is £750.
Eligibility
To join the Help to Grow: Management course, your business must:
- Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in the United Kingdom
- From any business sector, employing between 5 and 249 people
- Have been operational for at least one year
- Not be a charity
- If your business employs between 10 and 249 people, you can send up to two people on the course. If your business employs between 5 and 9 employees, you can send only one person. For more information, please read the:
To join the Help to Grow: Management course, the applicant must:
- Be a senior decision maker, such as Chief Executive, Finance Director, Operations Director, etc.
- Have at least one direct report
- Commit to completing all sessions
The Help to Grow: Management course at Robert Gordon University has significantly enhanced my management skills and strategic insight. The practical insights and strategies I gained have greatly contributed to our business’s strategic direction and growth potential.
Apply now
Our next Cohort of the Help to Grow: Management course starts on 24 January 2025 and registrations are now open. Alternatively, if this date does not suit you, you can register your interest and we’ll let you know when future Cohorts are available.
Do it, it is a very interesting course and you will get to meet others who run businesses and share your experiences, if I can fit it into my life running a business and also caring for my children anyone can, it is really worthwhile.
Aberdeen Business School
Aberdeen Business School is justifiably proud of its enviable links to local and global business. Without doubt this has served the School well as we are now ranked as one of the top global business schools who have successfully achieved SBC and AACSB accreditation.
Aberdeen Business School delivers a wide portfolio of professionally accredited and industry-led business and finance related degrees, including its flexible MBA Programme.
In the current climate where there are shifts in how we live, work and play, businesses need to ensure that they are equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge in order to survive and thrive. Aberdeen Business School is a key partner of the regional economy and delivers a world class business education to help enhance and upskill workforces, providing solutions to pertinent problems within the local business community and beyond.
RGU Talk - Leading your way to Business Growth Series
Further information
If you require any further information about Help to Grow: Management, your eligibility and applying, please contact d.gibbons-wood@rgu.ac.uk. Please visit the Small Business Charter website for Help to Grow: Management FAQs.