Help to Grow celebrates its second-year anniversary
On Wednesday 5 July, the Management School’s Help to Grow Programme celebrated its two-year anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Management School with a networking event and afternoon tea at DoubleTree by Hilton for programme alumni and those who have supported the programme.
The celebration included a welcome address from Iona Thomson, Client Director in Executive Education at the Management School and Paul Cherpeau, CEO at Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. Both Iona and Paul emphasised how successful the Help to Grow programme has been in the Liverpool region, with seven cohorts having successfully completed the programme, making Liverpool one of the most successful examples of the Help to Grow scheme.
Over 130 local businesses have been supported over the two years that the programme has been running, allowing them to access valuable support to improve their businesses. The 12-week course provides fifty hours of learning, covering key aspects of business and management and is also accredited by the Small Business Charter.
As part of the afternoon, a panel of alumni from the programme shared their experiences of the programme including Hazel Walker (Glenville Walker and Partners), Ann-Louise Gilmore (G&S Transport Merseyside LTD), and Leon McCowan (Your Business Mobile Limited) alongside Andrea Kelly (Director of Commercial Banking at NatWest).
Andrea was able to share how Help to Grow has helped the North West economy, promoting the growth of SMEs and family-run businesses which are vital to the region's economy. Andrea also discussed how business clients of NatWest have participated in Help to Grow and have experienced the benefit of participation.
Discussing why the programme is so important, panellists emphasised how it allows business owners to engage in self-development, learning from peers and from a 1-to-1 mentor to improve their businesses. The peer-to-peer support that the programme enables allows business owners to come together and support one another in a role that can often be found to be isolating, removing the loneliness through the discussion of shared experiences in a safe space.
Panellists highlighted the different ways that the programme has benefited them, including inspiring them to become business mentors, being able to validate decision making and improving financial performance through the establishment of clear metrics. Throughout the programme, participants also gain valuable expert knowledge from the Management School, which can then be implemented into their business practices, with one panellist (Ann-Louise Gilmore) describing it as “Well worth £750”.
You can view pictures from the event here.