Lancaster University Management School has started a new fully-funded leadership course for small businesses, providing support as they continue to tackle the impacts of Covid-19.

Supported by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP) is a free 10-week training programme for senior leaders in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It started this week at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).

SBLP is fully-funded by the UK Government, who have partnered with the Small Business Charter (SBC) to enhance small business resilience and recovery from the impact of Covid-19 and develop potential for future growth and productivity. It is being delivered by business schools across the country.

The programme covers a range of practical topics and is delivered online by small business experts – including entrepreneurs, business leaders and academics – from LUMS.

The programme will aid business resilience and future growth in the current climate, through the creation of peer groups to develop stronger leadership, innovation, operational efficiency, marketing and finance.

The practical syllabus provides business leaders with access to small business and management experts at some of the UK’s leading business schools, all of whom are accredited by the SBC for their excellence in supporting SMEs and the local economy.

With eight, 90-minute webinars, alongside independent and peer-to-peer learning, the programme is designed to support and fit in with day-to-day business delivery. Participants must be in senior management roles in businesses which have been operating for at least one year and with 5-249 employees, with at least one person reporting directly to them.

Paulette Swindell, LUMS Programme Leader for the Small Business Leadership Programme, said: “As we are in our second national lockdown, it is more important than ever that we help businesses who might be struggling during this time, sharing our knowledge and expertise. Our experts at Lancaster University Management School want to use their knowledge of marketing, consultancy and formal planning to help guide businesses across the region through the current climate, so that they can come out of this lockdown thriving.”

The SBLP is part of a £20 million package the government is providing to help small businesses in the long term.

The first LUMS Small Business Leadership Programme started this week. Two more programmes will take place in early 2021. For more information and to register, visit: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/small-business-leadership-programme/