Professional learning and development

The Leadership For Growth Programme supports ambitious SMEs across the Liverpool City Region to drive productivity and growth by improving their leadership and management capabilities.

392

SMEs

taking part to date

924

Participants

taking part to date

The Leadership for Growth programme is designed to engage and develop the capabilities of existing and aspiring managers and leaders within scale-up potential SMEs, enabling them to improve business performance, productivity, and resilience.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority.

Our fully-funded Chartered Management Institute (CMI) courses helps participants to address either operational or strategic leadership capabilities. The courses are designed to create ‘action-centred’ leaders, with dynamic capabilities to repeatedly lead change, growth and development in organisations and employees. The strategic leadership content focuses on the challenges and skills of making decisions that must be made in support of the organisational objectives, purpose and vision. It will also focus on how adapting strategic management styles can ensure performance, motivation, engagement and consistency within the SME environment. The operational management content focusses on effective and efficient managerial styles and behaviours and how these styles may be adapted in line with organisational expectations of performance, motivation, engagement and consistency.

Ineffective management practices account for around 55% of the total factor productivity gap in SMEs (The Productivity Institute, 2022) and around 60% of SMEs don’t formally monitor their own productivity (Institute of Directors, 2018). The Leadership for Growth Programme aims to support SMEs to improve their capabilities and drive business performance improvements.

All our courses are offered:

Online, through a flexible delivery model
Fully funded, to eligible SMEs
Via Edge Hill’s award winning Business School
Using our highly accessible and intuitive learning platform
With formal professional body accreditation and membership on completion

How to get involved

Step 1: Arrange a Business Diagnostic meeting with our team to confirm your business’ eligibility and objectives

Step 2: Complete the online Admissions form, selecting your preferred course and start date

Step 3: Await your enrolment invite and joining instructions. Then you’re all set to start!

Courses Available

There are two courses to choose from, taught at different academic levels, providing suitability for those in both management and senior leadership roles. Both courses lead to a CMI Certificate, professional body accreditation and membership:

Apply for CMI Management and Leadership Certificate (Level 4)

Overview

Aspiring or new managers will develop the skills and knowledge needed to develop personal management capabilities and skills, including decision-making, managing team dynamics and delegation capability.

Download the Certificate in Management and Leadership course leaflet

Course delivery

A min of 13 credits: Tutor guided learning: 45 hours. Total qualification time: 130 hours
20 weeks duration
Delivery will be through scheduled online tutorials

Compulsory module:

Managerial Styles and Behaviours (Unit 4001v1)
(Credit value: 6 credits. Guided learning: 20 hours. Total module time: 60 hours)

This module teaches about the skills of effective and efficient managerial style and behaviour. It will assess how managerial styles and behaviour may be adapted in line with organisational expectations.

Additional unit:

Management and Leadership Influencing Skills (Unit 4006v1)
(Credit value: 7 credits. Guided learning: 25 hours. Total module time: 70 hours)

This module teaches about management and leadership influencing skills which can be employed and their impact on the achievement of individual and task objectives. This module is ideal for candidates who have an interest in developing their management skills to a higher level and promoting themselves as a leader.

Assessment and verification

This is a vocational course where issues and topics covered should be applied by the candidate to meet identified personal developments needs and/or relevant continuous improvement / development needs of their employer. Candidates will submit a portfolio of coursework at the end of each module for assessment.

Eligibility criteria

Participants must be age 19+.
Attainment of GCSE or equivalent in English Language.
Be in employment (not unemployed or in full time education) in a Liverpool City Region small or medium sized business.

Individual candidates can only access funding through the Leadership for Growth Programme for one of the CMI qualifications offered at Edge Hill University.

Progression opportunities

On successful completion of the CMI Level 4 Certificate in Management candidates can progress onto the CMI Level 4 Diploma in Management and Leadership (course fees will apply).

Apply now

Apply for CMI Management and Leadership Certificate (Level 4)

Please make a note of your preferred entry date from those available below before selecting to apply.

Apply for CMI Strategic Leadership & Management Certificate (Level 7)

Overview

The course helps SME managers and senior managers tackle the challenges and develop the skills required in making managerial decisions that support of the organisational objectives, purpose and vision. The course is an excellent opportunity to develop effective management and leadership skills at a strategic level developing your business/employer and ensuring long term business sustainability. Download the Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership course leaflet.

Course delivery

A min of 17 credits: Tutor guided learning: 48 hours. Total qualification time: 190 hours.
15 weeks duration (maximum)
Delivery will be through scheduled online tutorials

Compulsory modules

Personal and Professional Development for Strategic Leaders (Unit 7014v1)

(Credit value: 9 credits. Guided learning: 24 hours. Total module time: 90 hours)

This unit will develop your understanding of the relationship between strategic management and leadership through key leadership principles, theory and organisational strategy.

Leading Strategic Change (Unit 7005v1)

(Credit value: 8 credits. Guided learning: 24 hours. Total module time: 80 hours)

This unit will enable you to identify and justify a strategic investigative project, determine project objectives, undertake research and analysis to produce recommendations, and evaluate the impact of the project.

Assessment and verification

Eligibility criteria

Participants must be age 19+.
Attainment of GCSE or equivalent in English Language.
Be in employment (not unemployed or in full time education) in a Liverpool City Region small or medium sized business.
This course is intended for experienced or senior business managers and owners. Candidates for this course must demonstrate their existing management experience on application. The University reserves the right to offer places as the admissions and programme administration team deem appropriate.

Individual candidates can only access funding through the Leadership for Growth Programme for one of the CMI qualifications offered at Edge Hill University.

Progression opportunities

On successful completion of the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Management candidates can progress onto the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Management and Leadership (course fees will apply).

Apply now

Apply for CMI Strategic Leadership & Management Certificate (Level 7)

Please make a note of your preferred entry date from those available below before selecting to apply.

Entry dates

The current available entry dates for each course are below. New dates will be added throughout 2024/25 as they become available.

Please note: The day of the week the course starts (shown in brackets) will be the same consistent day throughout when the online tutor-led sessions occur each week.

Management and Leadership (Level 4)	Strategic Management and Leadership (Level 7)
15/1/2025 (WED)	20/1/2025 (Mon)

Case studies

CMI Management and Leadership

“Through applying business models learned in the programme, we have been able to chart a route map to implement the changes at a pace suitable for the business.”

SME Water

CMI Management and Leadership

“We’ve implemented new tools and processes that aids employee and management training.”

Kensington Consulting Ltd

CMI Management and Leadership

“Helping to build a strong coherent management team.”

Pakawaste

CMI Management and Leadership

“It’s been great for morale and giving staff a new, fresh approach to their work.”

Blackpool Grand Theatre

CMI Management and Leadership
Level 4

“Improved my communication skills at all levels within the organisation.“

Qualified Senior Social Worker

CMI Management and Leadership
Level 4

“Increased my confidence in my decision-making.”

Rosettes Direct

CMI Management and Leadership
Level 4

“Formalised my management experience with a professional qualification”

Raised Floor Solutions

CMI Management and Leadership
Level 4

“Helped me build a resilient personal portfolio.”

Nitecrest

Eligibility

Courses are available fully funded to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Liverpool City Region.

What is an SME?

An SME is a business with fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover (income) of less than £42 million.
Employees of charities and public sector organisations are unfortunately not eligible.
Funded places are limited to one per individual participant. Employers may send three employees and we encourage both aspiring and current managers and leaders to participate.

Please note: The CMI Level 4 Management and Leadership Certificate does not require any prior learning or academic qualification prerequisites. Those looking to undertake the CMI Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership Certificate must either hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) or hold significant leadership and management experience.

Chartered Management Institute

Gaining a CMI qualification can be the key to improving your own knowledge, skills and performance. For individuals, gaining a professional CMI qualification can:

boost your career prospects and earning potential
help you face challenges with confidence
enhance your professional reputation

Increasing you or your team’s ability to manage people, deliver complex projects and drive change effectively can improve the quality and efficiency of your business.

The programmes are delivered by Edge Hill University’s Business School. The Business School offers exceptional teaching and a highly supportive learning environment. The academic staff are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a wealth of business and professional expertise.

The CMI is the only chartered professional body in the field of management and leadership offering high-quality management qualifications recognised throughout UK and Europe.

More than 80% of managers said that a CMI qualification is a key part of becoming a professional manager.
CMI

Get in touch

If you are an SME based in Liverpool City Region and would like to express your interest in our CMI programmes, please complete our enquiry form today. Places on the courses are limited.

Complete the form below and one of the team will be in touch to help you.

Nina Soni

Business Development Coordinator