At GM Business Growth Hub, we believe that investing in your people is the key to building a resilient, future-ready business. Just ask Kieran, founder of Batanaful, who swapped the pitch for the boardroom and discovered the support of our people team.
“I launched Batanaful five years ago with very little knowledge of running a business. I’ve been learning on the go ever since. The Hub has played a key role in that journey, helping me make sense of things, build structure, and gain confidence in areas I knew nothing about.” - Kieran Agard, Founder of Batanaful
Batanaful is a natural haircare brand founded by Kieran Agard, inspired by his search for safe, nourishing products for his daughter. The brand centers around Batana oil—an ancient remedy celebrated for its ability to restore, strengthen, and deeply condition hair.
Kieran Agard is a former professional footballer who began his youth career at Arsenal, later playing for clubs including Everton, Rotherham United, and MK Dons before transitioning into entrepreneurship.
Why Skills Development Matters
Functional skills like communication, problem-solving, and digital literacy are the everyday tools that keep businesses running smoothly. Investing in these areas boosts performance, engagement, and innovation—while building a culture of growth and adaptability.
“Whenever a challenge has come up, they've [GM Business Growth Hub] always been on hand to guide me through it or point me in the right direction.”
Dedicated Support That Makes a Real Impact
Kieran recently connected with Emma Murray, a dedicated skills coach from our People Team. Emma took the time to understand Kieran and Batanaful’s goals and helped pinpoint areas where training could make a real difference.
“Emma came out to our office and took the time to understand where we are as a business and where we want to go. She’s been brilliant in sourcing the right courses to support those areas.”
This kind of personalised support is what sets our People Service apart—whether it’s wellbeing, skills, or recruitment, we help businesses build the capabilities they need to grow.
“Working with Kieran and the Batanaful team has been incredibly rewarding. Their passion for what they do is truly inspiring, and it’s been a privilege to help them identify the right training to support their growth. It’s exciting to see how far they’ve come—and even more exciting to see where they’re headed.” - Emma Murray, Skills Coach, GM Business Growth Hub.
Kieran’s story shows that with the right support; passion can turn into purpose. With help from GM Business Growth Hub’s People Team, Batanaful is growing stronger—one skill, one step, and one success at a time. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, investing in your people is the game-changer that drives lasting growth.
Fully Funded Training Available
To make skills development even more accessible, we offer fully funded Skills Training—covering functional skills development. GM Skills Map an open-access, online, platform that connects all Greater Manchester businesses with training providers offering fully funded, part-funded, and commercial courses. It’s a smart, cost-free way to invest in your team.
Ready to grow your business through your people?
Visit our People Service page and book your free consultation today.
Get in touch
Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
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