A South Cumbria care home owner found much-needed support for his business through a development programme at Lancaster University Management School.

Kamal Siddiqi, the owner of the Old Vicarage Care Home in Allithwaite, South Cumbria, and of a domiciliary care start-up in Barrow-in-Furness, is one of the first business leaders to complete the Help to Grow Management Programme with LUMS.

The 12-week programme, delivered in association with the Chartered Association of Business Schools and the UK Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), is designed to fit alongside work commitments.

It allows businesses to develop and shape a growth plan to help firms reach their full potential in an ever-evolving operating environment following the twin challenges of Covid and Brexit. Business leaders learn from experienced academics and practitioners from within LUMS, as well as from their peers in the network.

Kamal said: “I joined the course because I wanted to expand my businesses, and I thought it would be useful to get outside views and opinions, and help from the university with how to grow those businesses in a more productive way.

“It’s been very interesting, a mixture of lectures, peer-to-peer groups, mentoring and materials. There is quite a lot on the course, but it is very useful and helpful.

“There have been a range of benefits. It has been a catalyst for me for starting new ideas; coming to the university has meant I have met up with people and received lots of networking help and support, and links to things that can help me improve my business; and it has given me ideas for how to improve my business culture, and the management culture.”

LUMS Help to Grow Programme Leader Dr Radka Newton said: “We welcome business leaders from across all sectors on Help to Grow – from care home providers to marketeers to manufacturers – but they all have valuable lessons to share with the network.

“Kamal’s work in the care sector is an area that has been particularly affected by the Covid pandemic, and I’m please we have been able to help him think of new ways forward to improve his business in the future.”

LUMS will run Help to Grow programmes starting in February and March, with further dates to follow. For more information, visit https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/business/grow-your-business/help-to-grow/