Manchester Metropolitan Business School offers training for SMEs

The Manchester Metropolitan Business School is lending its support to small and medium business owners during the pandemic through its leadership programme.

The triple-accredited Manchester Metropolitan Business School is part of a national consortium of Small Business Charter-awarded universities delivering the Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP) to eligible businesses in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Lancashire, and the Liverpool City Region.

The SBLP programme is supported by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and will provide training for senior leaders in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK.

The programme will provide SME leaders with the skills and know-how that will support the recovery of these businesses in the present climate.

The programme which provides support and expertise to businesses at no cost is part of a £20 million government package to help small businesses make a strong recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 10-week programme will be delivered by small business experts from the business school through a series of eight 90-minute online sessions and peer-to-peer learning.

The training programme is designed to help business leaders develop an understanding of what innovation in business means and will explore ways they can apply it to their business.

Business leaders participating in the programme will also develop leadership skills to have a positive effect on the performance of their business.

Participants in the training program will also learn how to articulate their vision and values as well as assess the long-term impact and sustainability of their businesses.

Programme participants will also learn how to identify key markets for their business and evaluate their approach to creating customer demand and building relationships with prospective customers.

Additionally, through these programmes, leaders of small businesses can develop the skills needed to outline the strategic approach to operations management and understand the key elements of managing finance required to underpin business growth and resilience.

Head of Business and Public Engagement at Manchester Metropolitan University, Mandy Parkinson said that the pandemic has caused small businesses to suffer.

Parkinson said, “With more than 5.9 million SMEs across the UK employing 16 million people, it is vital that we support small businesses and enable them to face the coming months with confidence and strength.”

The Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is also part of the consortium of business schools offering free business education to small and medium business owners.

Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Strategy in LUMS, Dr Danny Soetanto said that there is a strong need for businesses to be flexible, to network, to be innovative, and to try to explore and exploit new opportunities.

“New type of companies or entrepreneurs will emerge and may dominate the industry – entrepreneurs who can identify an opportunity will benefit,”

Soetanto added, “Training and programmes like the SBLP bring new perspectives and ideas. We can learn from others who are in similar situations, and that is one of the simple strategies in innovation. Taking part in the programme will allow businesses to acquire new knowledge and build new contacts which will be important moving forward.”

Programme Leader for the Small Business Leadership Programme at LUMS, Paulette Swindell said that the experts at the business school are keen to use their knowledge of marketing, consultancy, and formal planning to guide businesses across the region through the challenges caused by the national lockdown.

This free training programme is delivered online by business experts including entrepreneurs, business leaders, and academics from 20 business schools including Newcastle Business School, Leeds Business School, Aston Business School, and Kingston Business School.