The University of Derby’s Business School has become the latest business school to be awarded the Small Business Charter. This national accolade is in recognition of the business school’s high standard of support for small businesses and the local economy, as well as the work it does in developing entrepreneurial skills in students.
Derby Business School offers internships and placements as part of their excellent career and employability service. The Derby Internship Programme funded by the ERDF, is a significant programme with over 1,400 students engaged (between 2016-2019.) Over half of the small businesses involved gave students a part time or full-time role after the internship.
The school has excellent facilities for teaching and community business links. Banks Mill innovation and digital studios are fully occupied by students, graduates and creative entrepreneurs. The Kedleston Road facilities with their central location provide a visual presence at the heart of the University. The Careers and Employability Service is an excellent hub of activity which creates a fantastic environment for networking opportunities for both students and SMEs.
The business school has strong connections with stakeholders in Derby, resulting in offering excellent events and workshops in the local area, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship in the region. Some of these include FSB, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, CBI, Princes Trust, D2N2 LEP, Erewash Partnership, and Destination Chesterfield.
The Small Business Charter (SBC) award is a national kitemark awarded by the Chartered Association of Business Schools to recognise business schools which demonstrate excellence in supporting student enterprise, small businesses and the local economy. There are 34 business schools across the UK that hold the award.
Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said:
“The confirmation of our Small Business Charter accreditation is fantastic news. There are more than 25,000 small businesses in Derby and Derbyshire, which is 88% of all businesses in the city and county. To show that our business school, with the full support of the whole University, has Small Business Charter status sends a clear message to the SME community that we are here to support them in their growth, to promote their activity as a vital part of our local and national economy, and to drive their sustainability. We recognise that at the heart of our University we have a body of students that are their future talent.“
Anne Kiem, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said:
"We congratulate Derby Business School on achieving the Small Business Charter award. Their commitment to offering a diversity of services to local businesses is impressive, and their team does excellent work to bring together business, enterprising students and other stakeholders across the East Midlands region. Their work in supporting student employability locally further speaks to this business-orientated mindset.”