A Preston care business has hailed the impact of a government programme designed to help businesses scale more sustainably.

Kingdom Care Services, which delivers domiciliary and supported living services, has graduated from Help to Grow: Management, a course which helps leaders strengthen decision-making, improve operational resilience and build stronger foundations for growth.

The programme was delivered by The University of Salford’s Salford Business School, which has supported 252 businesses across more than 60 sectors in the last five years.

Sikandar Shah, Founder of Kingdom Care Services: “One of the most impactful aspects was learning alongside other business leaders. Hearing their experiences and challenges gave me a broader perspective and reassured me that many of the obstacles we face are shared, while also learning from the different approaches used to overcome them.

“The mentoring element was particularly valuable. It helped strengthen our financial management and improve cash flow, while also reinforcing some of my instincts and encouraging me to explore new directions and markets.

“In addition, the programme has strengthened our confidence in areas such as branding, marketing and technology. We are now developing a more efficient booking system and improving our operational structure.

“Overall, it has given us clarity, direction and a much stronger foundation for the future.”

Kingdom Care Services were among the 18th cohort to complete the 12-week programme. Participants took part in workshops, one-to-one mentoring and peer learning, using the programme to develop clearer growth plans, introduce more structured systems and strengthen leadership within their organisations.

Business leaders reported immediate benefits, including stronger financial and operational decision-making, clearer organisational structures, more confident brand positioning, and greater readiness to adopt digital technologies and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and support future growth.

Dr Ann Mulhaney, Associate Professor for Change Management at the University of Salford, said: “This latest cohort 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 how businesses are using the programme to strengthen leadership, improve operational discipline and create more sustainable foundations for growth.

“The calibre of leadership, openness to challenge and willingness to reflect has been exceptional. Over the 12 weeks, we’ve seen participants move from firefighting to making confident, informed decisions about how their businesses grow, lead their people and adopt new ways of working.”

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.
To learn more, visit:
https://sustainable-innovation.salford.ac.uk/programmes/help-to-grow-management-course/