6th December 2017

Cardiff Business School (CARBS) at Cardiff University has been awarded the Small Business Charter award. The national accolade is in recognition of the business school’s extensive work in supporting small businesses through their commitment to research and innovation and encouraging students in entrepreneurship activities.

CARBS’ Public Value strategy has created a new approach for a business school and is helping the institution to have an impact on small businesses and the wider society. The strategy encourages public value-focussed research, engagement with social enterprises and support to student entrepreneurs for the long term economic, environmental and social benefit for their communities.

The business school’s focus on research and innovation is also evident through its work at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Cardiff (CAMSAC), the Welsh Economy Research Unit (WERU) and the Responsible Innovation Network (RIN) which provide cutting-edge research in enterprise.

The business school is also awarded an Exemplar for 'Integrated Research on Enterprise and Innovation'.

The Small Business Charter (SBC) award is a national kitemark which recognises business schools that demonstrate excellence in supporting student enterprise, engagement in the local economy, and business support. The SBC website acts as a hub to connect small businesses with business advice and support provided by the 36 business schools which have achieved the award.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams said:

“The Welsh economy benefits hugely on the success of our small businesses and I am delighted that Cardiff Business School has achieved the Small Business Charter award.

“The business school’s commitment to supporting businesses and social enterprises is making a substantial impact on the companies they work with, the ones they are helping to get off the ground and the students they are preparing to be the business leaders of the future.

“I’m delighted that two of our business schools have now achieved this award.”

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, said:

“Our commitment to providing support to small businesses is a linchpin in our distinctive public value strategy. And so we take great pride in the fact that our work has been recognised by the Small Business Charter.”

Anne Kiem, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said:

“We are delighted that Cardiff Business School has joined the growing number of business schools to be awarded the Small Business Charter award. The positive impact Cardiff Business School has had on businesses and students and its engagement with social enterprises has already delivered social improvements in the region, and this is rightly celebrated. We welcome CARBS to our network of award winning schools.”