ASCEND Scale Up – Greater Manchester's flagship programme for founder-led businesses ready to grow.
ASCEND businesses have gone on to secure investment, form strategic partnerships, enter new international markets, open new offices, grow their teams, significantly increase turnover – and in some cases, successfully exit. This is what scaling with the right support, the right peers and the right programme looks like.
If you're a founder ready to step back from the day-to-day and build something bigger – ASCEND is built for you.
Previous cohort members describe it better than we ever could:
Dominic Willson, Co-Founder & CEO, BigByte Digital
Gabriel Erinle, Founder, GAME FM
Candice Bannister, Co-founder, Candys cupcakes
Is ASCEND right for your business?
ASCEND is designed for established, founder-led businesses that are ready to scale. You're likely the right fit if:
- Your business is based in Greater Manchester
- You have a team of at least 10 people
- Your annual turnover is £1m or above
- You're growing or have the clear ambition and plan to grow at pace
- You're a founder or senior decision-maker ready to invest time in your own leadership and strategy
Not sure if you meet the criteria? Register your interest and we'll be in touch.
What can you expect from this action-packed programme?
Tailored to the needs of the ambitious founders who participate in the programme:
Workshops
Gain insights from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs, along with top-quality support from our key partners, KPMG and RBC Brewin Dolphin. These are delivered over 2 days per month (with breaks in summer and at New Year).
Personalised Coaching and Mentoring
Receive monthly mentoring offering confidential 1:1 guidance from exited founders, helping you navigate challenges, refine skills, and achieve personal and professional growth
Experiential Travel
Your journey starts with a residential strategy retreat. Half way through the programme, we take you to one of the world's most founder-focused international events for global networking, investor connections and peer learning, fully funded for one founder per business.
Funding Opportunities
ASCEND connects you with a strong network including active investors and funders at curated events shaped by our partners. Previous cohort businesses have gone on to secure investment, access new finance and form partnerships that simply wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
Elite Network
ASCEND brings together founders from completely different sectors deliberately. Previous cohort members consistently describe the peer relationships as the most valuable thing they took from the programme.
Inspirational Founder Talks & Action Learning
Gain valuable knowledge and connect with guest speakers as well as take advantage of opportunities to workshop ideas and problems with the best in the business.
Our partners
As part of the ASCEND Scale Up Programme, KPMG will lead a number of delivery days, including "Strategy to Action", focusing on translating strategic vision into actionable plans and fostering a culture of success.
We’re pleased to also partner with RBC Brewin Dolphin who lead on a number of events throughout the programme. Justina Best, Regional Strategic Partnership Manager, says: The Ascend programme not only presents founders with a phenomenal opportunity to gain support in many aspects of growing, scaling and selling a business, but additionally a unique collaboration opportunity with like-minded individuals who become life-long cheerleaders and friends’.
Experience Slush: The most founder focused event on the planet
ASCEND cohort 3 will have the opportunity to attend Slush in Helsinki in November, an event which prides itself on the opportunities it creates to build global networks for founders and investors in a variety of sectors, and a range of different event types over the 2 days.
Mentors
Dr. Howard Simms
Founder of ApadmiBuilt one of the UK's leading app development agencies in Manchester and successfully exited. Mentors ASCEND founders on growth strategy, leadership and building a business you can eventually sell.
Jack Malin
Co-founder and CEO of MembrBuilt a Manchester-born SaaS from the ground up. Mentors ASCEND founders on scaling a software business, securing and retaining customers and navigating the unique challenges of founder-led growth.
Susanna Lawson
Co-founder of OneFileBuilt and scaled an edtech business from startup to market leader. Mentors ASCEND founders on product-market fit, scaling operations and what it really takes to grow a founder-led business sustainably.
Dr. Vikas Shah MBE DL
Serial entrepreneur and investorFounded and exited multiple businesses across textiles, technology and media. Mentors ASCEND founders on leadership under pressure, long-term strategic thinking and building a business with lasting value.
FAQs
The ASCEND Scale Up Programme is a flagship initiative by GM Business Growth Hub designed to assist ambitious businesses in Greater Manchester with scaling up their operations. It offers a blend of workshops, personalised guidance, networking opportunities, and resources tailored to the needs of scaling businesses over a 12-month programme.
ASCEND is for founders and senior leaders of established businesses who:
- Are beyond early-stage start-up and actively scaling
- Have the ambition to grow faster, smarter and more sustainably
- Want to strengthen strategy, leadership and decision-making
- Are open to challenge, peer learning and fresh perspectives
- Are ready to commit time and energy to meaningful growth
The programme is right for you if your business is:
- Based in Greater Manchester.
- Has a team of at least 10 people.
- Growing at 20% year-on-year.
- Brings in a minimum annual revenue of £1,000,000.
- Unrivalled Support - Tap into expertise from our partners at KPMG and RBC Brewin Dolphin.
- Exclusive Perks - Past cohorts have benefitted from trade missions, a bespoke media package, exclusive invites to national and international events, and introductions to investors and advisors.
- High-Value Network - Build relationships with fellow ambitious entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
- A clearer, stronger growth strategy
- Confidence at the toughest growth moments
- Access to investment, partnerships and global opportunities
- A trusted peer network that lasts beyond the programme
To make the most of ASCEND, participants must:
- Be a key decision-maker in your business
- Commit to attending all programme activities
- Participate in a charity day with the cohort to give back to the local community
The ASCEND programme is a 12-month journey with 5 main components:
- Monthly workshops delivered in collaboration with our partners, KPMG and RBC Brewin Dolphin
- Monthly 1-1 mentoring with our pool of exited-founder mentors
- Monthly inspirational founder talks and action learning sessions
- Two residential events to really get to know the cohort and work on the business
- A trip to Slush, Helsinki, in November 2026
Note: there is no workshop delivery in August or December 2026.
Business leaders are selected through an application and interview process, with emphasis placed on their vision, potential for growth, and commitment to leveraging the opportunities provided by the programme.
Interested business leaders should fill out the expression of interest form available on the GM Business Growth Hub website. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview to assess their suitability for the programme.
GM Business Growth Hub will fund the tickets, hotel and breakfast for 1 person per participating business (usually the founder). Participants should fund their travel to Helsinki and other meals.
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