Cleaning business welcomes new government-backed training

Business leaders can reach their full potential with new government-backed training designed to help them thrive again as the UK builds back better.

Clare Halliday, Managing Director of Refreshing Scotland Ltd, in Roslin, Midlothian, has welcomed the Help to Grow: Management course now being delivered by leading business schools, encouraging fellow business leaders to sign up.

Halliday signed up to the course at Strathclyde University Business School as course modules were designed to give her the tools and knowledge to help drive her business’s growth.

She said: “The brilliant course leaders bring a wealth of knowledge, humanity and understanding, and develop a supportive, safe space for the attendees to get the most out of it – regardless of your business.” 

“Don’t think – just do it! The time invested will challenge you and change your thinking for a better future.” 

Refreshing Scotland Ltd is a holiday let cleaning services provider, and more recently a holiday let owner themselves. During lockdown the business pivoted to deliver key worker cleaning services to safeguard thousands of vulnerable people a week.

The Help to Grow: Management course is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in the UK that employ between five and 249 employees. It is run by expert facilitators from leading business schools across the UK that have been accredited by the Small Business Charter.

The course is worth £7,110 per participant but is 90 per cent subsidised by the government, meaning business leaders pay just £750 for tailored, high-quality business training.

Business leaders can benefit from 50 hours of in-depth training, one-to-one business mentoring, and the opportunity to grow their business fast. They can take part around existing work commitments and access learning through a blend of online and face-to-face sessions. 

The course covers financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, digital adoption and responsible business practices. It features inspirational business leaders and the opportunity to learn alongside local peers, with access to a national alumni network. Throughout the course, business leaders develop a realistic and valuable Growth Action Plan that is tailored to the challenges they face.

Course leader Wendy Pring has 17 years of experience running her own civil engineering company. She is enthusiastic about mentoring both other companies and her own employees, placing a great emphasis on visions and values.

She said: “Help to Grow is a commitment to participants on both an individual and organisational level. Many of the challenges we face as business leaders can be very similar and this peer-to-peer learning can offer insights across sectors, geographies and business scale and size.”

Anne Kiem OBE, Executive Director, Small Business Charter and Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “The business schools delivering this course have a fantastic track record, supporting many thousands of business leaders to grow their small and medium sized businesses.  

“Help to Grow: Management is a unique opportunity to access world-leading support to work for your business without taking too much time out of your business.” 

To find out more about Help to Grow: Management and to register for a course visit gov.uk/helptogrow.