Equipment manufacturer hails impact of business growth programme

Ajax Equipment, a family-run business with more than 55 years of engineering heritage, is among the latest businesses to complete Help to Grow: Management at the University of Salford’s Salford Business School.

The programme is designed to help businesses scale more sustainably through stronger leadership, clearer strategy and improved operational systems.

Matt Barnes, production manager at Ajax Equipment, described the experience as "incredibly valuable". "The programme has given us the opportunity to reflect on how we work and how we can bring new tools and approaches into the business," he said. "It has helped us set clearer goals and rethink how we continue improving the business.

"Digitisation is opening up new ways of working for us, and we are already starting to see progress in how we operate. Personally, it has been one of the best things I have done in my career. I had never worked with a mentor before, and it has made me question things more, challenge myself and grow in confidence. It has also given me the confidence to contribute more effectively within the leadership team and help drive change across the business.

"Hearing different perspectives from other businesses has been incredibly valuable, and it has helped shape how we approach the future,' Barnes added.

The University of Salford began delivering Help to Grow: Management five years ago, combining academic insight with real-world business experience. It has now supported 252 businesses across more than 60 sectors.

Ajax Equipment was among the 18th cohort to complete the 12-week programme, which combines workshops, one-to-one mentoring and peer learning to help business leaders improve performance, strengthen leadership and develop clearer plans for growth.

Across the latest cohort, businesses reported stronger operational and financial decision-making, clearer organisational structures, improved confidence around digital adoption, and greater readiness to explore technologies such as AI and automation to improve efficiency and support future growth.

"Over the 12 weeks, we’ve seen participants move from firefighting to making confident, informed decisions about how they grow their businesses, lead people and improve operations," stated Ann Mulhaney, associate professor for change management at the University of Salford 

"This latest cohort also marks an important milestone for the programme as we pass 250 SME leaders supported over the past five years.

"What has been particularly encouraging is seeing businesses strengthen leadership, improve operational discipline and create more sustainable foundations for growth."

Help to Grow: Management is delivered through a national network of 64 accredited business schools, with the ambition to support 30,000 SMEs across the UK.

The 12-week, 50-hour programme is 90 per cent government-funded, reducing the cost to £750 per participant. On completion, participants join a national alumni network, providing ongoing opportunities for support, collaboration and continued development.

sustainable-innovation.salford.ac.uk/programmes/help-to-grow-management-course