RGU unveil leadership programme for north-east SMEs

A NORTH-east university is set to deliver a leadership programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Aberdeen Business School aims to support growth and help boost the economy post-Covid through the new government-funded Help to Grow programme.

Help to Grow: Management is an executive development programme accredited by the Small Business Charter and offers leadership and management training, targeted specifically at the SME sector, alongside one-to-one business mentor support.

Aberdeen Business School was recently awarded Small Business Charter accreditation which recognises business schools that play an effective role in supporting small business, local economies and student entrepreneurship.

Professor Elizabeth Gammie, Head of Aberdeen Business School, said economic sustainability and growth within the region is a key focus for the university and we will continue to work tirelessly with our full range of stakeholders to support and contribute to the recovery of the region.

She said: “We are delighted that Aberdeen Business School has recently been awarded the Small Business Charter in recognition of the work that we do to support the SME sector.

"As the only business school north of the central belt entitled to run the Help to Grow scheme, we are looking forward to supporting businesses in the north and north-east of Scotland as we all recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic.

“At Aberdeen Business School, recently named the Business School of the Year (Times Higher Education Awards 2020) we have the knowledge and expertise to help businesses recover and build resilience in the current climate, while also boosting performance and generating longer-term growth.

“The in-depth curriculum will support companies to build capabilities in leadership, innovation, digital adoption, employee engagement, marketing, responsible business, and financial management. By the end of the Help to Grow: Management programme companies will develop a business growth plan to help them realise their potential.”

The School will work with local businesses and industry leaders across the north-east to identify relevant strategic opportunities and help to drive business growth. The 12-week practical management programme aims to support senior managers with expert-led webinars, mentoring and peer-to-peer working and is designed to fit around the workload of senior managers. It is 90 per cent funded by the government's economic and finance ministry, HM Treasury.

There are 20 spaces available for the first cohort, which begins in October and is open for applications now https://www.rgu.ac.uk/helptogrow

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