Huddersfield Business School enters tenth round of Help to Grow management program for SME leaders

7 Jul

University of Huddersfield in the UK expands its hybrid business development course for small and medium-sized enterprises, with new cohorts confirmed for September 2025 and January 2026.

Huddersfield Business School, based in the United Kingdom, is preparing to launch the tenth round of its Help to Grow management program this September, following confirmation of additional funding from the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS).

The course is targeted at managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Kirklees and surrounding regions. The 12-week program is designed to support long-term growth and business resilience. A further intake in January 2026 will mark the eleventh delivery of the initiative, which first launched in April 2022.

To date, approximately 150 participants have completed the course, representing a wide range of sectors including retail, construction, manufacturing, engineering, design, creative industries, and the third sector.

Curriculum designed for SME leaders

Delivered by Huddersfield Business School at the University of Huddersfield, the program includes a mix of online and in-person learning. Participants attend 12 interactive sessions and receive 10 hours of one-to-one business mentoring. Each week requires a time commitment of between three and five hours.

Sessions are facilitated by Katey Curtis, Senior Practitioner in Executive and Professional Development at the university, and are led by academic staff and industry professionals with subject-specific expertise.

The program’s focus is on providing practical tools to enhance leadership, improve operational effectiveness, and help participants develop strategies for sustainable business growth.

Broader engagement and long-term outcomes

The Help to Grow initiative includes regular networking events for alumni and local SMEs. These sessions offer firms the opportunity to exchange insight and remain connected to the wider business support ecosystem. The Business School also launched the Huddersfield Help to Grow Awards in December 2023 to recognize contributions and impact among participating companies.

The initiative continues to attract a diverse group of local businesses, with efforts to extend its reach within and beyond the Kirklees region.

Stella Bowdell, Help to Grow Programme Director at Huddersfield Business School, says: “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 programs like this is so vital. Our region’s business leaders are outstanding, and we are proud to be providing the support that they deserve.”