Help to Grow: Management course at Norwich Business School with the UEA - 90% Government Funded
by Emily Nichols | 19th Sep 2025 | Hethel Innovation
We have the unmissable opportunity to extend to the Hethel Innovation Network to attend the Help to Grow: Management course at Norwich Business School with the UEA.
The course is 90% government-funded, meaning participants pay just £750, a cost-effective investment in leadership development.
Unlocking business growth begins by unlocking the potential within its leaders. The Help to Grow: Management course at Norwich Business School is uniquely designed to help entrepreneurs and senior managers take that personal leap. Over 12 engaging weeks, participants dive into the latest thinking in strategy, innovation, digital tools, financial management and leadership, alongside like-minded SME leaders who understand the pressures and ambitions of running a business in today’s world. With the guidance of expert business mentors and support from a robust peer network, you’ll find space to step back, reflect on your challenges, and discover new, actionable approaches to leading your teams and shaping the future of your company.
This is so much more than just practical management training; this experience will expand your confidence, broaden your horizons, and connect you with a national community of fellow graduates through alumni events and resources. Whether you’re aiming to innovate, solve a complex challenge, or gain the clarity to move your business forward, Help to Grow: Management offers the tools, encouragement, and insight to help you lead your company through its next chapter and achieve long-term success.
Unlocking Growth for SMEs: Help to Grow: Management at Norwich Business School
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the UK economy, making up over 90% of all businesses. Recognising their potential, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak launched the Help to Grow: Management course—an executive leadership programme designed to boost business performance, resilience, and long-term growth.
At UEA’s Norwich Business School (NBS), we’ve proudly delivered this transformative course since November 2022, supporting over 100 local SMEs on their journey to strategic success. With our 7th and 8th cohorts now confirmed, we continue to empower business leaders with the tools and insights they need to thrive.
What Is Help to Grow: Management?
Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week executive development programme tailored for SME leaders. It covers essential topics such as:
Strategy and innovation
Digital adoption
Financial management
Marketing and branding
Leadership and organisational design
The course is 90% government-funded, meaning participants pay just £750—a cost-effective investment in leadership development.
What Makes the NBS Experience Unique?
Delivered by experienced faculty at Norwich Business School, the course blends online interactive sessions with four in-person workshops, offering a dynamic and flexible learning experience. Participants also benefit from:
10 weeks of mentoring with an external business expert
Small group discussions after each session
A curriculum aligned with our MBA programme
Many past delegates have described the course as transformative, helping them view their businesses through a new lens and implement meaningful changes.
Eligibility Criteria
To join the course, your business must:
Have 5 to 249 employees
Be trading for over a year
Be a profit-making entity (charities must have a commercial arm)
Send a business owner or senior leader with management responsibilities
Businesses with more than 10 employees may apply for two places.
Join Our Next Cohort – Starting 1st October
We’re currently finalising recruitment for our next cohort starting on 1st October, and there’s still time to register. If you’re interested, search for Norwich on the registration portal to find our latest cohort. Once eligibility is confirmed, we’ll send you a payment link and a Welcome Pack to get you started.
Hear From Our Community
Want to learn more? Check out these resources:
Small Business Charter – About Help to Grow: Management: Learn more about the course content and hear from past participants.
Help to Grow at NBS – Vimeo Video: Watch a short video featuring our academics and alumni.
Ready to grow your business with confidence? Join us this October and take the next step in your leadership journey.
For more information or if you have any further questions please email S.DaCunha@uea.ac.uk
About the Author
Emily Nichols
Marketing Lead
As Marketing Lead at Hethel Innovation, I bring together a passion for storytelling, community building, and driving impact within the region’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. But I try to do this through the lens of good trouble, finding a way to balance creativity with strategy, often throwing the unexpected into the mix. I'm a firm believer in human first, so when I look at the vibrant innovation landscape around me at Hethel Innovation, it sparks curiosity and questioning. It's one thing to look at data points; it's another to uncover the passion and journey behind it.
