An architectural design studio has strengthened its strategic direction and commercial foundations after completing a national leadership programme.
Manchester-based Common Practice Studio, now in its third year, was founded as a small, values-driven practice committed to ensuring thoughtful, meaningful and purposeful design is accessible to all.
Working across community-focused projects, Co-Founder Yan Wing Le joined Help to Grow: Management, the Government-backed 12-week leadership initiative to step back from day-to-day delivery and take a more strategic view of how the practice operates and evolves sustainably.
As many small architecture studios balance design delivery with the demands of running a business, Yan Wing Le said the programme provided vital space for reflection.
“The programme has been really valuable in giving me the space to step back and reflect on what we were doing and how we were doing it,” she said. “When you are a small practice, it is very easy to stay in survival mode, wearing multiple hats and focusing on delivery while also trying to run the business.
“Help to Grow helped us shape clearer plans for the future, and the mentoring support was particularly useful, especially in tackling areas like visibility and compliance policies. It also highlighted where we need to strengthen our marketing to clearly communicate our core values, refine our terms and conditions to support cash flow, and explore opportunities around technology, including embracing AI. It has given us much greater clarity and confidence about our next steps.”
Help to Grow: Management supports SME leaders in strengthening productivity, leadership capability and long-term growth planning. Participants develop structured strategies for financial oversight, compliance, marketing and digital adoption.
For Common Practice Studio, the programme reinforced the foundations required to transition from early-stage practice to sustainable, long-term growth, while staying aligned to its values-led design ethos.
Dr Ann Mulhaney, Associate Professor for Change Management at the University of Salford, which delivered the programme said:
“Yan is part of a cohort that has been a real pleasure to work with. The calibre of leadership, openness to challenge and willingness to reflect has been exceptional. Over the 12 weeks, we’ve seen participants move from firefighting to taking confident, informed decisions about how their businesses grow, lead their people and adopt new ways of working.
“If you are an SME leader looking for the space, support and challenge to work on your business, not just in it, I would strongly encourage you to join a future cohort.”
Help to Grow: Management is delivered through a national network of 64 accredited business schools, with the ambition to support 30,000 SMEs across the UK.
The 12-week, 50-hour programme is 90 per cent government-funded, reducing the cost to £750 per participant. On completion, leaders join a national alumni network for ongoing support and collaboration.
To learn more and get involved, visit:
https://sustainable-