Growing Greater Manchester’s Businesses by Investing in Leadership

By Dr. Eliza Morgan, and Louise Varley Directors, Honey & Morgan

As ambitious businesses look to take advantage of the buzz around Greater Manchester’s opportunities – leadership can play a critical role in delivering growth.  To achieve this, organisations need to invest in leadership skills. However, research continues to highlight significant gaps in leadership capability – gaps that limit business performance and hinder economic growth.

The question is: how can organisations effectively develop leaders to deliver growth? Our answer lies in business focused leadership development and internationally recognised accreditation.

What is the link between leadership and growth?

Successful leadership isn’t just about decision-making – it’s about creating environments where people thrive. Companies with professional leaders benefit from higher productivity, stronger engagement, and better employee retention.

Investing in leaders creates a culture of continuous improvement an innovation, develops a pipeline of talent and boosts profitability.  Gallup research has shown that strong management contributes to up to 48% higher profits.

Research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) shows that if UK organisations invested in leadership development at the same level as Germany, the economy could experience a £76 billion productivity boost. This underscores the economic imperative of investing in leadership to deliver growth in ambitious businesses across Greater Manchester.

If you are an ambitious business – consider developing your leadership talent with one of a suite of leadership courses we are proud to be launching in partnership with pro-manchester.

Business focused, internationally recognised leadership qualifications 

As an Accredited CMI Centre, Honey & Morgan is partnering with pro-manchester to provide Leadership Development Qualifications to both pro-manchester members and non-members.  Our suite of CMI internationally recognised qualifications are business focused to deliver regional growth.

The CMI is the only Chartered professional body in the field of Management and Leadership. Their qualifications act as a benchmark for excellence, ensuring that leadership is rigorous, practical, and aligned with real-world business needs. But beyond certification, what makes accreditation valuable?

• Quality assurance – accredited programmes meet industry-recognised benchmarks, ensuring professional credibility.
• Practical relevance – courses focus on applicable leadership skills that directly impact workplace performance.
• Clear progression pathways – CMI-accredited training provides structured development towards Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, a highly respected leadership credential.
• Global recognition – with a network of 143,000+ professionals worldwide, CMI membership connects learners with valuable insights and mentorship opportunities.

The new pro-manchester Professional Growth Academy is designed to support current and aspiring leaders develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in today’s workplace. Through practical, interactive learning, participants will strengthen their leadership capabilities and gain valuable tools to support their professional growth.

For businesses focused on growth, future-proofing leadership through professional development and accreditation is an investment that delivers measurable returns. The question isn’t whether to invest in leadership – it’s how soon.

Launching this autumn if you would like more information about the Professional Growth Academy, please contact [email protected]