Christmas is a time for slowing down, reflecting, and preparing for the year ahead. For the SME leaders we work with on our Help to Grow Management Course, this often means thinking about what they truly wish for in their business: clarity, growth, and sustainable success. Here are the wishlist items I've observed leaders prioritise.
Understanding your finances - the gift of confidence
You don't need to be an accountant, but you do need a firm grip on the financials. I've noticed that successful business leaders consistently know how to manage risk, pace growth, and spot where margins can be strengthened. Understanding your numbers gives you confidence when speaking to lenders, partners or potential investors - a gift that keeps on giving.
Learning how to use your time wisely - a present of focus
Lauren Guthrie is the founder of Guthrie & Ghani and former finalist on The Great British Sewing Bee. A mother of three young children, Lauren works three days a week on her business Guthrie & Ghani - making strategic focus and strong management essential for success.
Lauren says: "I didn't have the right frame of mind before the course. Having gone through the Help to Grow: Management Course, I now know how to think about growth, what to evaluate, and how to structure the business to support it. It gave me the confidence to take the leap to propel Guthrie & Ghani forward."
Her experience shows the importance of knowing how to apply practical business frameworks, understanding your customer base, and developing clarity about the leader's role in the business - the kind of present every SME leader wishes for.
Transitioning from corporate to SME leadership - the gift of perspective
Karsten Smet, CEO of ACI Group: ‘What happens when you've been in a C-level position at large organisations is you don't know how SMEs work. You don't necessarily understand how all the different components really fit together or how decisions are made. The Help to Grow: Management Course gave me this understanding and time to clarify my business's future and make my organisation one that my employees were invested in."
Leaders making this shift often say they gain a deeper appreciation for how each part of the business contributes to performance. With that comes a greater sense of responsibility, but also the chance to make decisions with real pace.
Lifelong learning - a joy for all ages
The most common feedback we get from Help to Grow: Management Course alumni is that they got something positive from the course that exceeded their expectations. It doesn't matter how many years of experience we as leaders have, there is always the opportunity to learn more, and to validate or recalibrate that you are leading your organisation on the right path. Consider investing in your own knowledge to unlock personal and business growth.
Paul Kenny, Managing Director of Yorkshire-based Aquatrust: "There is often a misconception that a typical pathway to business success always involves going to university straight out of school. But in reality, this is far from the case for many successful individuals. My journey wasn't linear - I didn't go to university, and my A Level results weren't what I'd hoped for. But I found opportunities, worked hard, and kept learning. Enrolling on the Help to Grow: Management Course in 2022 was my first real experience of returning to formal education - at the age of 50/51. It came at a crucial time in my career and gave me a real plan and purpose for my business. Help to Grow: Management reignited that learning mindset and gave me the tools to lead Aquatrust into its next chapter."
Re-engaging with structured learning gives leaders the space to think more clearly about the road ahead and broaden their skill set.
Exporting - opening up new horizons
Exploring overseas markets encourages firms to refine offerings, strengthen processes, and build resilience through diversification- gifts that can transform a business' trajectory.
Byron Dixon OBE, chair of the Small Business Charter, says: "I can't overestimate the degree to which exporting can transform a business' trajectory - it certainly did for mine. It's also so much easier than it was 20 years ago, and there is so much fantastic support on offer. Yet, too many SME leaders delay exporting much longer than necessary. They wait until they've exhausted domestic opportunities, or until growth plateaus. Sometimes they just never see it as an option for them at all. To those in that position, I'd say this: the question shouldn't be "When should we export?" but rather "Why aren't we already exporting?"
Work ON the business, not IN it - unwrapping focus
Taking time away from day-to-day pressures helps leaders think about capacity, future skills, and the investments that will shape the next phase of growth. Critically it also provides the opportunity to think about their own role and how that contributes towards growth.
Rachel Hicken, Pig & Olive co-founder: "I'm very good at service, my co-founder Simon knows his pizzas - but that's not enough if you don't understand the backbone of running a business. Help to Grow: Management really set off my journey of learning about business. It helped me realise I needed to stop just working IN the business and started working ON it. I learnt that growth requires leaders to step back and look at the big picture. The Help to Grow programme gave me the confidence to look at figures properly and understand the story they tell and gave me the confidence to make strategic investments."
Make your Christmas wish list come true
This festive season, SME leaders can unwrap practical insight, steady reflection, and a willingness to learn - gifts that strengthen any growing business. With renewed focus and a bit of breathing space, you can enter the new year with purpose and confidence.
For more information please visit Small Business Charter [1]