Aston Business School and Nottingham Business School have each been awarded reaccreditation with the prestigious Small Business Charter for the maximum period of five years — a significant achievement that recognises their exceptional and sustained impact on small businesses and regional growth.
Aston Business School was praised by the panel of independent assessors for its commitment to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. The school was also commended for its dynamic ecosystem, which combines enterprise education, impactful research, extracurricular engagement, and strong industry partnerships. In particular, Aston’s delivery of the Help to Grow: Management programme, Knowledge Exchange projects, and other SME-focused initiatives were highlighted as making a genuine difference to the local and regional economy.
Professor Marian Garcia, Dean of Aston Business School, said: ''We are delighted to have been successful in the reaccreditation of the Small Business Charter. This recognition is a testament to our continued commitment to supporting small businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and delivering meaningful impact through enterprise education and business engagement. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, as well as the strength of our partnerships with the local and regional business community. As we look to the future, we remain focused on deepening our contribution to inclusive economic growth and ensuring our students and SMEs benefit from innovative, practice-based learning and support."
Nottingham Business School was praised for using the Small Business Charter framework as a peer review tool to drive internal excellence, ensuring its work remains highly relevant to small businesses and regional growth. Nottingham demonstrates leadership in enterprise education and a strong commitment to SME engagement.
Executive Dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: "This prestigious five-year accreditation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and business partners. It recognises NBS’s dynamic role in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership across both academia and industry, and reflects our deep commitment to supporting SMEs, shaping policy, and delivering impactful education and research that benefits our region and beyond."
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “Aston Business School and Nottingham Business School are great examples of how business schools are delivering real, measurable impact for small businesses and regional economies. Both schools have been awarded the maximum five-year accreditation in recognition of their contribution to enterprise and local growth, and we’re proud to recognise their continued leadership.”
The Small Business Charter is a national accreditation, assessed by small business leaders, to recognise business schools which demonstrate excellence in supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and the local economy. There are 68 business schools across the UK and Ireland that hold the Small Business Charter accreditation.