A participant and a leader of the University of Worcester’s Help to Grow: Management programme have been recognised at a national awards ceremony in London.
Steve Ennis and Richard Sadler were both recognised for their involvement in the Help to Grow programme.
At the event, hosted by organisers of the Help to Grow programme, Steve Ennis and Richard Sadler each scooped awards celebrating the most influential mentors and mentees from across the UK.
Help to Grow: Management is a UK Government-supported programme delivered by accredited business schools, designed to help SMEs boost productivity, build resilience and drive long-term growth.
Run by Worcester Business School at the University of Worcester, the 12-week course gives participants tools to strengthen areas such as brand development, high-performance workplace culture and strategy growth planning.
Steve Ennis, who teaches on the programme and provides one-to-one mentoring, supported Richard Sadler as he grew his business, CJC Aggregates and Landscaping Supplies.
Steve said: “Richard had a really clear vision of what he wanted to do. All he needed was someone neutral to bounce ideas off; someone outside his business who could give him permission to do what he already knew he needed to do.”
“My award is really Richard’s award,” he continued. “He’s the one who has grown his business, challenged himself, and acted on the things he knew he ought to do. I just helped him along.”
As both a mentor and a business coach, Steve says the programme delivers enormous value: “Help to Grow is the perfect course for any owner looking to scale their business their business. To find competitive advantage, you have to become the best version of yourself, and this course helps you do that.”
Richard Sadler, who won the Mentor’s Choice Award, said: “To get the award was a real validation of all the work Steve and I have done together.”
“I hadn’t run my own business until I was in my early 50s,” he added. “I came into the Help to Grow programme three years into building the business, and it really helped me pull together a strategy and grow the business profitably.”
Richard is still involved in the Help to Grow programme as an alumnus of the course. “I’ve been a guest on the programme’s podcast, and they did a big case study article on me and my business which gave me the chance to really reflect on everything we’ve achieved as a team.”
For more information on the Help to Grow Management Course, email HTG@worc.ac.uk or call Laura Swain, Business Development Manager on 01905 542 418.