The University of Gloucestershire has become synonymous with providing quality training and support to businesses looking to upskill their staff and grow — and it's launching its new range of professional short courses for businesses this September 2023.
Delivered at Gloucestershire Business School at the university's Oxstalls campus, new one-day courses include project management; leadership; and financial fluency for growth; with the university also delivering the government's new Help 2 Grow Management programme — and offering bespoke training packages tailored to specific business needs.
The new short courses have been designed to complement the existing range of higher and degree apprenticeships as the university further develops its portfolio via The Growth Hub.
Alongside the free support on offer at Gloucester Growth Hub, it can now offer in-depth consultancy services, allowing more time with individual clients to take a deep dive into their challenges to growth and provide solutions.
Director of business engagement and partnerships at the University of Gloucestershire, Dr Polly Pick, said: 'We are passionate about helping businesses in Gloucestershire grow and we are doing everything we can to help them achieve their ambitions. Over recent years we have supported thousands of SMEs through the Gloucester Growth Hub, providing them with access to free support and offering a range of events and networking opportunities.
'We have also been working closely with employers of all sizes and across all sectors, helping them to upskill their staff through our higher and degree apprenticeships.
'Our short course offer builds on this track record by providing structured training around key business topics. As such, we are able to draw from our network of first-class delivery partners, as well as our own academics. As a result, our training programmes are a perfect blend of theoretical content and real-word best practice.'
Manager of the Gloucester Growth Hub, Alex Cottrell, said: 'We are delighted that we can now extend our offer to clients by signposting them to these new short courses. We have worked closely with the university in developing the portfolio to ensure that it meets the needs of local companies. The courses on offer are ones that we are most-often asked for by Growth Hub clients and other employers, so we are confident that they will be valuable to local firms.
'However, we also recognise that all businesses are different and some employers may require a more detailed exploration of some topics. As such, it is fantastic that the university is also able to develop bespoke programmes, so employers can upskill their staff to address a particular challenge or realise an exciting opportunity.'
Andy Kime, a business guide at Gloucester Growth Hub and course leader, added: 'Every client interaction has been unique, but all have a common theme of a desire to improve. Small, large, mass market, niche, early stage or mature, we have been privileged to be let in on clients’ secrets, dreams and aspirations, and trusted to use the information constructively.
'We are thrilled to be able to continue offering free business support to local businesses, as well as more in-depth consultancy, short courses and the delivery of the Help to Grow Management programme at the University of Gloucestershire.
'We are able to work with new clients, but also clients that we previously worked with who will be in a different phase, and potentially requiring additional support.'
One-day courses cost from £75 up to £350, while the Help 2 Grow Management Course is 90 per cent government funded and costs £750 per person.
To see the range of short courses, including the upcoming Help To Grow Management Course, visit glos.ac.uk.
