Help to Grow: Management Course
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Start date
September 2026
Duration
12-week course
Learning mode
A combination of online and face-to-face sessions
If you would like more information about future cohorts, please email Dr Yuliana Topazly at y.topazly@uel.ac.uk.
Overview
Launched in November 2025, the Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL) at UEL marked the start of a new cohort of the UK government’s prestigious Help to Grow: Management Course, designed to strengthen small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in their leadership acumen and business growth.
Supporting up to 30 SMEs employing between five and 249 employees, this programme not only bolsters their leadership and management skills but also aims to increase their business resilience and performance for long-term success.
The 12-week programme provides cohort-based learning which includes over 50 hours of expert and academic-led support, blending interactive online lessons with face-to-face case study workshops, peer-to-peer session and networking opportunities held at UEL’s Docklands Campus.
Beyond topics covered such as digital transformation, strategy, financial management, and operations, participants also benefit from 10 hours of one-to-one mentorship with experts and an invaluable peer-to-peer network with other senior leaders across the region.
Cost
90% funded by the government, the course costs £750 per person.
Delivery
This course is combining interactive online lessons with in-person case study workshops, peer-to-peer sessions and networking opportunities, for the duration of 12 weeks. The in-person delivery takes place at our Docklands Campus.
Delivered by the Royal Docks School of Business and Law.
Celebrating the achievements of our Help to Grow
Management Course graduates, a cohort of ambitious SME leaders who have invested in their growth and strengthened their leadership practice.
Delivered through the Royal Docks School of Business and Law at the University of East London, the programme brings together practical learning, mentoring, peer support and access to national networks.
This graduation marks not only the completion of the programme, but the beginning of the next stage of their leadership and business journey.
Stories from Help to Grow
Discover how founders and businesses have grown through the Help to Grow programme - from strengthening strategy and leadership to building sustainable long-term growth.
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Meet Gareth Bousfield, Operations Manager at Global Intelligent Logistics
Discover how Gareth Bousfield used the Help to Grow Course to strengthen his leadership approach, embrace innovation, and gain valuable insights into modern management.
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Meet Manash Mukherjee, Founder of Stunited
Discover how Manash Mukherjee used the Help to Grow Course to strengthen strategic thinking, expand professional networks, and scale a purpose-driven business supporting students and early-career professionals.
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Meet Alissa Khan-Whelan of Happy Yolk
As part of the Help to Grow, Happy Yolk shares how the programme helped strengthen the agency’s commercial foundations, refine its growth strategy and build long-term confidence.
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Meet Oliver Director of Churchill Gown
As part of the Help to Grow, Churchill Gowns shares how the programme helped strengthen leadership, innovation and long-term business growth.
What do people say?
Dr Yuliana Topazly, MBE, Associate Professor of Enterprise and Innovation at UEL’s Royal Docks School of Business and Law and Director of the Help to Grow Management course, said,
“We understand the challenges facing SMEs in East London and across the UK, particularly around scaling and growth. Our goal is to provide practical support, ensuring every participant can confidently navigate change and turn economic pressures into true growth opportunities for them and their business."
“This is more than just a course - it's an investment in the future of our region's economy. As a leading Business and Law School, reflected in our recent nomination for ‘Business School of the Year’ in the Times Higher Education Awards, we are proud to deliver a programme that translates academic insights into real-world business growth."
Professor Fatima Annan-Diab, Vice-Provost (Business) Executive Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law says:
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the Help to Grow Management Course gives local entrepreneurs the tools and confidence to unlock new opportunities for growth. At the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, we are proud to work with the Small Business Charter to provide expert guidance and practical support that help business leaders hone their skills and take their enterprises to the next level of building resilient, financially viable, successful, and forward-looking businesses in East London and beyond.”
Facilitators
Programme Director
Events Operations Lead | Programme Support
Senior Lecturer
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Senior Lecturer
Deputy Head of Department
Business Growth External Expert
Frequently asked questions
Who is this course for?
The Help to Grow: Management Course is for business owners, leaders, or senior managers from all business sectors.
To be eligible, you and your business must meet the following criteria:
- Your business must:
- Be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in the United Kingdom
- Employ between 5 and 249 people
- Have been operational for at least one year
- Not be a charity.
- You must:
- Be a chief executive, owner/founder, or member of the senior management team
- Have at least one direct report
- Commit to completing all sessions.
If your business employs 10 to 249 employees, you are now able to send up to two participants on the course, providing they both meet all other eligibility criteria, as set out above.
A business that previously sent a participant on the Small Business Leadership Programme will also be able to nominate up to two people to participate in Help to Grow: Management, subject to meeting all other criteria.
What does the course involve?
During your time on the course, you will take part in:
- Online and case study workshops - these sessions are delivered by expert facilitators from Small Business Charter-accredited business schools, an award that recognises business schools who provide high quality, tailored advice to small businesses. Case study workshops are held in-person and are designed so that you can learn from the real-world experience of SME business leaders.
- 1-2-1 mentor support – you will be matched with a mentor to help you apply what you learn, and they will support you to develop your unique Growth Action Plan. Your mentor will have experience leading a small or medium-sized business at a senior level, or equivalent experience working with business leaders on growth, productivity and innovation.
- Peer networking – you will connect with other small business leaders through facilitated small group video calls, in which you can share your experiences on the module content, and work together to develop your Growth Action Plan.
The programme is structured to allow you to continue working alongside the course, ensuring your business remains on track while you are investing in its future.
What's in it for your business?
The Help to Grow: Management Course is helping small business leaders increase revenue, reduce operating costs and better engage employees. 91% of course participants surveyed report greater confidence in leading and managing their business, within 6 months of completing the course.
During the course, you will work with your mentor to complete a tailored Growth ActionPlan for your business. You will also learn how to:
- Develop your leadership and management skills, enhancing employee wellbeing and engagement in the process.
- Recognise what drives productivity and growth in your market and understand what this means for your business.
- Advance responsible business practices, including how you create an inclusive workplace and greener workplace practices.
- Innovate your business model, including how to adopt and invest in new and digital technologies.
Identify key domestic and export markets for your business and develop strategies for market segmentation, positioning and targeting. - Develop strategies to improve operational efficiency, saving time and money.
Once the course has finished, you will retain access to expert advice and the support of this unique peer network through the Help to Grow: Management Alumni Network, a programme of events, webinars and small business-specific content delivered through the Alumni Network Hub.
Course brochure
Impact report
Impact report: Startup Gateway Services
pdf, 5.38 MB
Register or find out more
For further information from the University, please email the Course Director at y.topazly@uel.ac.uk or register to attend this course directly on the Small Business Charter site.