Follow a business through Help to Grow: Management – part one

Running a business is a whirlwind—every day is a mix of decisions, challenges, and opportunities. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth doesn’t just happen; you have to make it happen. That’s exactly why I signed up for the Help to Grow: Management programme—because I wanted to take a step back, learn from experts, and refine the way we scale Pop-Specs into something even bigger and better.

This is the first in a series of blogs following an SME through Help to Grow: Management, 90% funded by H M Government and in partnership with the Small Business Charter.

Quick facts

Company name: Pop Specs Ltd

Company size: 120 employees

Company head office location: Manchester

Industry: Eyewear

Pop Specs offers affordable fashionable eyewear ready in 20 minutes. We offer expert styling and bespoke fitting advice to find the perfect frame for your face. Plus a 20-minute collection service, subject to stock lenses availability.

Levelling Up with Help to Grow: Management

Why I signed up

I love what we do at Pop Specs—creating fun, affordable eyewear that makes people feel fabulous. As we grow, I know we need to be smarter about strategy, leadership, and innovation to sustain and expand our success. This course seemed like the perfect way to build my skills and take the business to the next level.

For me, this was also about stepping outside my comfort zone. When you’re in the thick of daily operations, it’s easy to just keep going without stopping to ask: Are we making the right moves? Are we truly maximising our potential? Help to Grow offers that space to reflect, strategise, and make real improvements from day-to-day business decisions to impactful overall growth decisions.

The problem I want to solve

Like many small businesses, Pop-Specs has experienced rapid growth—but keeping that momentum going whilst staying agile is the challenge. We’re now at 31 kiosks within four years, with vision and ambition beyond the UK markets. How do we ensure we don’t lose the unique, personal feel that made us successful in the first place?

One major focus for me is employee engagement and productivity. Our team is the heart of our business and creating a thriving, motivated workforce will help us deliver better experiences for our customers. I also want to develop a more structured approach to entering new markets and launching innovative products and services; ensuring we grow sustainably while maintaining the bold, fun brand identity we’ve built.

Why now?

Because there’s no perfect time—you just have to go for it.

Pop-Specs is in an exciting phase, but we can’t afford to be reactive—we need a clear strategy. The business landscape is shifting, and now is the moment to focus on building resilience, making sure we can adapt to whatever comes next.

What I’m most looking forward to

The strategy and innovation module is top of my list. Understanding how to create and implement smart, future-proof strategies is going to be a game-changer. I’m also eager to explore financial management—getting a strong grip on numbers is key to making solid business decisions.

My tips for anyone thinking about signing up:

• Go in with an open mind – there’s so much to learn, and even the unexpected insights can be transformative.
• Make time for reflection – it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. Use this course to step back and think long-term.
• Be ready to take action – knowledge is great, but real change happens when you apply what you learn.
• Connect with others – the best ideas often come from conversations with fellow business leaders.

Final Thoughts

Help to Grow: Management has already pushed me to think bigger and smarter, and I can’t wait to see the impact these learnings have on Pop-Specs. If you’re a business leader looking to scale with confidence, improve team engagement, and develop lasting strategies, I’d say—go for it. This is the investment in yourself and your business that will pay off in ways you never expected.

Find the next series: Help to Grow: Management for business | MMU