Broadening horizons with the Help to Grow: Management Course
Having built success for his business with no formal education or training, Jack Shearring (Co-Founder, LEAD Consulting, at the time of study) started to consider the need to expand his business knowledge as the organisation grew but he grappled with a busy schedule and little spare time. The Help to Grow: Management Course at Birkbeck offered a manageable yet knowledge-rich solution to his needs.
The Help to Grow: Management Course is a 12-week programme for small business leaders designed to unlock growth potential and leadership skills. Birkbeck has successfully delivered eight cohorts of the programme as part of our Small Business Charter accreditation, supporting the success of over 100 small business leaders and their organisations. Birkbeck has a long-standing history of teaching working professionals, and the delivery of the Help to Grow programme further supports this mission.
Learning from other business leaders
Jack had already achieved great success in his marketing consultancy business without undertaking formal training or education but began to experience a growing desire to learn the foundations of business theory to keep pace with the growth of his organisation. The Help to Grow programme offers rich and informative content but is timetabled in a manageable way which worked in harmony with Jack’s schedule.
Operating within a small business, leaders often feel confined to the same four walls and faces, which further fed Jack’s desire to learn from others within a classroom. The in-person teaching and networking opportunities on the course exposed Jack to a range of successful individuals outside of his field which opened up new perspectives on a similar range of challenges and objectives. Three years later, he still maintains contact with members of his cohort, and they continue to learn from one another as the small business landscape develops.
Jack comments on the impact of the networking element of the programme: ‘"Speaking to other business leaders was incredibly beneficial. My marketing consultancy business had many challenges that were similar to others - ice cream, escalator/lift and domiciliary care business – which was unexpected!"
Expanding into new horizons
The course structure allows participants to achieve quick wins with each module focusing on a new subject which can be applied immediately; it also enables longer-term business decision-making. Jack was inspired by the learnings of the internationalisation module and took consideration of this following on from the course. Having only worked and lived in London, he faced some hesitation to expand overseas due to his unfamiliarity in the space. Help to Grow and his Birkbeck mentor provided him with the knowledge and confidence to recognise and take advantage of the opportunities, which resulted in his decision to expand into Singapore and achieve further business growth.
Invest in your business
If you’re an SME leader looking to take your business into new territories and gain inspiration from likeminded individuals, explore the Help to Grow: Management Course at Birkbeck. It may be the best investment you make.