The Government’s Help to Grow is a UK wide scheme helping small and medium sized businesses to develop new skills, reach more customers and boost their profits.

The scheme consists of two programmes.

Help to Grow: Digital

This programme helps businesses with choosing, buying and adopting new digital technology.

It provides a 50% discount on new software (up to a maximum of £5,000 including VAT) as well as free to access advice and guidance on the Help to Grow: Digital website.

The 50% discount is only available on approved software from specific suppliers listed on the Help to Grow: Digital website.  The list of approved software includes accounting and customer relationship management (CRM) products.

In order to be eligible for the discount, businesses must also:

• have a registered office in the UK;
• be registered at Companies House, or be a registered society on the Financial Conduct Authority’s Mutuals Register;
• have been incorporated and actively trading for over a year;
• have between 5 and 249 employees; and
• be purchasing the software in question for the first time.

Help to Grow: Management

This scheme provides eligible businesses with access to a 12 week-programme to help them develop a bespoke business growth plan. The programme is delivered by leading business schools across the UK and has a practical curriculum, with 1:1 support from a business mentor and peer-learning sessions. It is 90% funded by the Government, leaving £750 for the business to pay.

In order to be eligible for the programme businesses must:

• be a UK based Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME);
• have between 5 and 249 employees;
• have operated for at least one year; and
• not be a charity

Only one individual can attend from any given business and they have to:

• be a senior decision maker, such as Chief Executive, Finance Director or Operations Director; and
• commit to completing all sessions.

 You can find more information on the programme and courses near you on the Help to Grow: Management website.