Build your business skills
On-demand training to help you assess your businessand identify the tools you need to grow.
Learn at your own pace wherever, whenever
Bite-sized solutions to real-life business challenges
Knowledge and expertise, from four universities tailored to your specific business needs
Access the fully funded online small business support programme aimed to help you answer your burning business questions.
OPEN SME will bring some of the best business minds in the city to provide small business support on your mobile, tablet or laptop. On the tram on the way to the office, at home, when the kids are in bed, or when you get five minutes of peace at the weekend: OPEN SME brings university best practices to your fingertips.
Launching with four key modules, OPEN SME will help you answer the questions that keep you awake at night. Every topic will distil the best research into practical bite-sized business learning and give you practical tools to assess and improve business.
Funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and delivered by the University of Bolton, University of Manchester, University of Salford, and Manchester Metropolitan University, there is no cost for you to access the programme.
Sign up now to gain access to the on-demand course.
Available Topics
Digital
Finance
Markets & Models
People
Finding and
Keeping talent:
Why can't I find good staff and why do the good ones leave?
Leading and Managing:
No one has ever shown me how to be a manager/ leader and I don't have anyone to ask.
My staff effectiveness:
Have I got the right number of the right people doing the right things?
Pricing:
How do I know my pricing is right?
Cost Control:
How do I know if I am wasting money?
Cash flow:
I know I am profitable, why don't I have the cash?
What does the programme cover?
This online course will help you identify and build on your existing strengths and uncover the areas for development.
We know your time is precious, so every topic has been honed down to less than an hour of screen time, start to finish, and a personal learning diagnostic at the start means you won’t waste any time on topics you don’t need.