29th January 2020

We are pleased to announce that a further six business schools have been successful in their reassessment for the Small Business Charter Award. These six schools will join eight other schools who have been reassessed in this academic year and will continue their excellent work supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship across the regions of the UK. These schools are:

  • Coventry Business School, Coventry University

  • Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University

  • Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University

  • Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

  • Nottingham University Business School

  • University of Liverpool Management School

The Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, Anne Kiem, said, “It is our pleasure to once again award these schools with the Small Business Charter, a kitemark that celebrates their expertise in their support for business and student enterprise, as recognised by small business themselves. The reassessment process invites the schools to reflect on the progress they have made since first receiving the Award. We look forward to seeing how these schools continue to set the standard for the sector and support the community in meeting the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving economic landscape.

Coventry Business School:

The overall strategy of the University is geared towards innovation through engagement with business, creativity, knowledge exchange, education and as such there is articulation of the strategic direction of the business school to 2021 and beyond. Knowledge exchange is highlighted within the overall approach and willingness to engage in research targeted toward enhancing business through productivity and efficiency.  The business school encourages and supports entrepreneurship within the environment and across the region. 

The SBC assessors commented: “The structure of the business school is one which supports the entrepreneurial approach and in turn helps to raise the profile of the business school within its region. The development of a curriculum for undergraduate students which includes explicit reference to modules of learning which support entrepreneurialism is of a significant scale and includes the opportunities for students from different subject areas to participate within these learning activities.  In addition to the campus environment of the University, the innovation site occupied by Coventry University Enterprises, is a significant advantage to both the University and the local business community. The opportunities for engagement either through access to facilities or support from CUE staff is clear and demonstrable.”

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School:

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School is a large school that has well defined goals for supporting SMEs and start-ups. Its strategic planning has contributed to the direction of the school for the next five years, firmly driven by the university’s business school central mission, which focuses on: “transforming lives, businesses and communities”, with a strong emphasis on supporting SMEs.

The SBC assessors commented: “MMU’s enthusiasm for and expertise in working with small business to drive their growth and development is beyond question. Their four growth programmes, three innovation programmes and three leadership programmes all combine to create a rich and effective resource to ambitious small business owner managers and their senior teams. The business school also offers a very strong and well-regarded selection of enterprise modules through the curriculum. This is a mix of practical, immersive experiences as well as the theoretical, assessed in exemplary ways.”

Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University:

Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett University has used its SBC award-holder status to raise their profile as a source of advice and support for SMEs. The effectiveness of this activity is demonstrated by the scale and volume of engagement with SMEs and the support articulated by partner organisations including SMEs and their representative bodies. Leeds Beckett has also leveraged their Small Business Charter status to contribute to the development and delivery of the wider University strategy, to play a leading role in developing the regional economy.

The SBC assessors commented: “Leeds Business School is committed to be an anchor institution for the region, and to be a truly civic university. This strategic commitment is evidenced by a wide range of activities and investment. The scale of engagement and support for SMEs through the University Business Centres and development programmes is highly impressive. The University Procurement Policy and proactive approach to integrating SMEs into their supply chain is an exemplar of good practice.”

Leicester Castle Business School, DMU:

Leicester Castle Business School at De Montfort University, works closely with stakeholders to support the economic development of Leicester, working within the region to provide more support to local businesses and the wider community. The main initiatives bring students into the community to understand better where they live and to support students to stay in the local region after graduation, finding jobs with SMEs.

The SBC assessors commented: “LCBS is deeply committed to supporting their students’ whole experience, particularly in finding employment and working with the local community – of which 96% are micro businesses. There is excellent work from DMU on the support of diversity in business using their expertise with BAME students. Academic research also plays a critical role in the local region, particularly with the work on the use of SME as suppliers as well as their work with the local council on skills and employability development.”

Nottingham University Business School:

NUBS’ vision is to foster responsible business and management through focusing on the following: strengthening international entrepreneurship education at the Malaysia and China campuses to support local businesses to deal with local issues in those regions; support SMEs in the social and environmental sectors as well as other disciplines; and the development of a civic role locally in the UK in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University.

The SBC assessors commented: “The business school uses the Haydn Green Institute to provide the core of its focus on SME engagement and wider enterprise agenda. The mission of the business school incorporates the strategic role of enterprise. The HGI absolutely underpins this mission and vision.  The level of staff and the HGI as a whole is impressive. The level of engagement equally so.”

University of Liverpool Management School:

ULMS’s strategy development is well connected to the wider business community at a city and regional level. Liverpool Management School has a long history of engagement with SMEs and it has some long-running and well- supported initiatives.

The SBC assessors commented: “Liverpool actively uses the graduates of the Growth Catalyst as mentors to students and other SMEs. There is a wide use of SMEs in the business school. We were able to interview students who had engaged with SMEs in mentoring and support. All provided positive evidence of alumni and SMEs being active in mentoring and peer support.”

The Small Business Charter recognises business schools that play an effective role in supporting small businesses, local economies and student entrepreneurship. 34 UK business schools hold the Small Business Charter.