ESCP Business School London is launching the Help to Grow: Management programme in January 2027
Applications at ESCP's Campus in North West London are open
ESCP's participation in the Help to Grow scheme expands the School’s support for small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. The School is now accepting applications from eligible SME leaders who look to strengthen their business strategy, win new customers, get more from their teams and build a clear plan for growth.
Part of ESCP's wider commitment under its Small Business Charter accreditation, the programme will deepen the School’s engagement with UK SMEs as business leaders place greater emphasis on upskilling talent. KPMG UK’s latest Private Enterprise Barometer found that 37% of business leaders now prioritise skills and capability development, up 25% in just six months, as they look to harness technologies such as AI and drive growth.
Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week, government-backed programme. With 90% of the cost funded by the government, eligible SME leaders pay only £750. Participants receive 50 hours of learning, alongside one-to-one mentoring and peer learning, giving them structured time to step back from the day-to-day and focus on developing their business.
To extend access further, ESCP’s first cohort builds on the School’s involvement in Camden’s Inclusive Business Network and a shared commitment to inclusive growth. Eligible businesses can also speak to the ESCP team about payment options, including bursaries.
SMEs are such a vital part of the UK economy, and we want ESCP to play a more active role in supporting their growth. Help to Grow allows us to build deeper relationships with SME leaders, expanding lifelong learning opportunities at our London Campus and bringing our expertise directly to the businesses growing and creating jobs around us.
Prof. Marie TaillardDean of ESCP London
At ESCP London, the programme will run from 6 January to 31 March 2027, with sessions scheduled on Wednesdays for around two to four hours a week. Participants will benefit from the School's international reputation, applied learning model, close links with industry and entrepreneurial approach to business education.
In a cohort of around 20 SME leaders, participants will be taught by ESCP experts who combine all academic expertise with practitioner and consulting experience. The programme will cover strategy, innovation, marketing, finance, digital transformation and people management, combining practical learning with international perspectives drawn from ESCP’s presence in London and across six major European markets.
The programme builds on ESCP’s existing work with UK SMEs through consulting projects and industry collaborations, alongside its wider entrepreneurship ecosystem, which includes Blue Factory, ESCP’s European Business Incubator, and alumni-founded businesses such as London-based Shop Circle.
When you are running a growing business, so much of your attention is focused on what needs to happen today that it can be difficult to step back and think about what comes next. Help to Grow gives leaders the space to do that, challenge their thinking and work through their own growth priorities. We want participants to leave each session with ideas they can put into practice straight away.
Alice IvanoffCEO & Founder of Kokoon (now part of Blify) and Help to Grow Programme Manager at ESCP Business School
Ahead of the January launch, ESCP will host two free online taster sessions on 9 October and 22 October, featuring business practitioners from Canva and Word on the Curb. The sessions will give prospective participants a preview of what to expect should they join the programme.
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