Ivan McKee

The forum was attended by CEOs and senior managers of Scottish SMEs at the Trades Hall of Glasgow. Guest speakers included Alisdair Gunn, director of the Glasgow City Innovation District, and Dr Julie McFarlane, founder of the Academy for Enterprise Education.

They offered valuable insights on flexible work strategies and methods to maintain employee motivation amidst changing market demands.

The event also featured Professor Adrian Furnham, an internationally recognised organisational psychologist, who provided advice on fostering resilient leadership and ensuring employee engagement. A core focus of the discussions was the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset, along with strategies for improving job satisfaction and enhancing productivity.

SME leaders from various sectors were in attendance, all united by their involvement with the Help to Grow: Management Course. This 12-week programme, 90% funded by the government, provides over 50 hours of training, including 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring. By February 2023, the course, facilitated by Small Business Charter accredited business schools, was completed by 320 Scottish SME leaders across six universities including the University of Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt University, and the University of Stirling.

Speaking at the event, Mr McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, said: “Growing and supporting Scotland’s SME sector is critical to our future economic success.

“I’m delighted to have taken part in the Help to Grow: Management Alumni Network event and speak with some of the business leaders that have benefitted from the course. A key theme that came from the conversations I had, and what many leaders say helped unlock their potential, is the mentoring and peer-to-peer networking.

“Building relationships with your peers and the wider SME community is an invaluable tool, so it was great to see first-hand how this works with Help to Grow: Management
Alums.

“I wish all the business leaders I met today all the best and would encourage other leaders looking for support to explore how a Help to Grow: Management Course could
help them.”

Pam Wilson, director of Stirling-based Kevin Wilson Master Builders, said: “This Help to Grow: Management event has been a fantastic experience. It has allowed me to reconnect with my colleagues from the course and make new contacts from other cohorts. The speakers did a great job at carrying on from the Course content and I look
forward to actioning some their insights.”

Individuals completing the course automatically join the alumni network, where they have access to content and partner offers, support of a UK-wide peer network, and entry
to exclusive events.