Small business training can facilitate business growth. The authors show that a "hands-on" approach can have a direct impact on a business owner's current situation. They consider this in relation to the problem of being unable to find the right staff, demonstrating that a program such as the one they describe enables learning and addresses the lack of time and resources faced by many small business owner-managers. Such programs also accommodate the style, pace and circumstances of the individual learner. This has a number of implications for the delivery of training to small business owner-managers.