University of Brighton students joined hundreds of business leaders in London to learn how to ‘think big’

Organised by Chartered Association of Business Schools for Help to Grow, the event in the impressive County Hall in London was set up for their alumni business leaders. They came to enjoy a masterclass on the psychology of success and listen to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs discussing their own business growth journeys.

A benefit for the School of Business and Law as being accredited to deliver Help to Grow was that we were invited to take three Marketing MSc students to the event to learn from the speakers and meet business leaders. The leaders from various businesses were pleased to engage with our students on solving marketing problems.

Ashok Kumar, studying on our Digital Marketing MSc said: “I was very positively influenced by the business story and success of David Abrahamovitch, Founder, and CEO of GRIND, a coffee business and also emotionally moved by Hardeep Rai, CEO of The Kaleidoscope Group. Both of these stories motivated me to be a socially responsible business entrepreneur.”

The leadership and motivation session by Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology at University College London was a highlight of the event, covering the path to leadership, characteristics of superior leadership, challenges, training, and motivations that lead to the most successful businesses.

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade spoke at the event and reflected: “The resources Help to Grow: Management gives small businesses are fantastic. Speaking to alumni today I could see how highly they value the course. It’s no surprise that 91% of alumni would recommend it to a friend.”

Kevin Hollinrake MP

Help to Grow is a 90% Government funded 12-week programme of education and support for business leaders to learn how to grow their business, and alumni events such as these are important learning and networking opportunities for the businesses involved.

Dr Adam Jones, Principal Lecturer and Programme Director of Help to Grow, who attended with the students commented: “I am so impressed by how our students were able to apply their studies to what the speakers were saying and relate it to their own experience of business.”

Another student who attended – Andre De Almeida on our Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc said: “Among all the speakers, Andrea Reynolds stood out to me. She was truly incredible and served as an inspiring leader. One particular comment she made resonated with me – ‘What action will you take this week that can impact your business?'”

Ashok summed up his experience: “This event was a great learning experience for me. I was offered a part-time digital marketing job by one of the businesses I spoke to, and I came away with the aspiration to become an entrepreneur in the near future – I am thankful to the University of Brighton for making this possible.”

Dr Adam Jones, Programme Director of Help to Grow at the University of Brighton

Help to Grow

Designed to help you unlock business potential, the Help to Grow: Management course is 90% funded by the government.

The course supports leaders and senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses in any sector via a 12-week programme that can be completed alongside full-time work. Find out more.