One of the county’s universities is offering local business owners the chance to fine-tune their leadership skills with a course starting in January.

Canterbury Christ Church University says its Help to Grow management course is aimed at business leaders and senior managers at the county’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Lasting 12 weeks, it aims to help them boost business performance and offer useful connections with other business leaders.

Applications for the course, delivered by its Business School, are open now.

Kate Keane, programme director for Help to Grow, said: “We know from our previous participants that this course can deliver dividends to local businesses, helping them to grow and improve leadership skills, as well as provide an opportunity to build a close network of local contacts, which many attendees find invaluable.

“Our local SMEs are at the heart of our region’s economy, providing career opportunities and driving economic growth for the south east. By working together, we can help our local businesses build clear growth action plans and equip them with the tools they need to turn that plan into reality.”

By the end of the programme, participants will have developed a growth action plan, based on the learnings from the modules which include topics such as strategic planning, employee engagement, finance and marketing.

It is heavily subsidised by the government, who fund 90% of the course, with businesses paying £750 per person.