Round ten for Huddersfield Business School’s Help to Grow management programme

Local firms are being encouraged to sign up for Huddersfield Business School’s successful Help to Grow management programme which is now in its tenth round.

The practical course is suitable for managers from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are seeking to enhance their leadership skills as well as boost their business's performance and long-term growth.

It takes place over 12 weeks and includes 12 interactive sessions alongside 10 hours of business mentoring, delivered by subject experts and industry leaders, all facilitated by Katey Curtis, Senior Practitioner in Executive and Professional Development at the University of Huddersfield.

With a combination of online and face-to-face workshops, participants dedicate between three to five hours a week to take part, all focused on helping them develop and grow their businesses.

Huddersfield Business School delivered its first Help to Grow programme in April 2022, receiving funding through the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS). In total, it has now supported around 150 people through the popular scheme.

The companies involved are from a mix of sectors, including retail, construction, manufacturing, engineering, design, creative, as well as the third sector.

Funding for a further two new cohorts has now been received, meaning the University and its Business School can offer this support to 30 more Kirklees businesses this September in round ten and an additional 30 in January 2026 in what will be round 11.

Stella Bowdell, Help to Grow Programme Director at Huddersfield Business School, commented: “Help to Grow Huddersfield is an incredible opportunity for businesses in Kirklees and beyond to benefit from £7,500 worth of high-quality, practical learning and mentoring. We have such a vibrant, diverse range of businesses taking part, and the strength of the Help to Grow network being built on with every cohort is another example of why providing high-quality, accessible programmes like this is so vital. Our region’s business leaders are outstanding, and we are proud to be providing the support that they deserve.”

The Business School also hosts regular Help to Grow alumni networking events for SMEs across Kirklees, allowing the firms to exchange valuable insights and keep up-to-date with the latest developments.

December 2023 saw the launch of the Huddersfield Help to Grow Awards.

To find out more about Huddersfield Business School’s Help to Grow programme click here.