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Small Businesses: Skilled Workers

Asked by Gareth ThomasLabour (Co-op)Department for Business and TradeTabled Answered 10 March 2026UIN 117658

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what grant funding is available to help support the development of commercial and business skills in small and medium-sized enterprise.

Answered by Blair McDougall

The Department for Business and Trade does not provide centrally administered grant funding, specifically for the development of commercial and business skills for SMEs.

Help to Grow: Management (HTG:M) is a UK-wide leadership and management programme for SME leaders. The programme is 90% government‑subsidised, with a participant contribution of £750.

Responsibility for business skills funding is devolved to local government, with commercial and business skills courses delivered through Growth Hubs funded directly through Mayoral Combined Authorities and local councils.

Businesses are encouraged to use the business.gov.uk website to identify relevant local support, including skills and business development funding in their area.

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