Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) has retained the Small Business Charter Award following a successful reassessment.
The panel praised LUMS for its strong commitment to fostering student entrepreneurship. Notably, the school's Work in Progress hub was highlighted as a key resource, providing students and graduates with essential entrepreneurial support through workshops, mentoring, and co-working spaces.
LUMS's strategy is clearly focused on supporting small businesses. The school delivers programmes that successfully address the needs and challenges of SMEs in the region and beyond, such as the Made Smarter Leadership Programme, the Innovation Catalysts, and the Good Growth Programme. LUMS now hosts over 90 Entrepreneurs in Residence, who benefit from a dedicated space in where they can work and run meetings when they are on site.
In 2023, LUMS launched a new Professional and Executive Management Learning unit, which offers a range of support for SMEs, such as leadership and management development, consultancy, coaching, mentoring, and networking. The unit will build on the existing expertise and experience of LUMS in delivering business support programmes.
Local SMEs play an integral role in the curriculum, participating in the design and delivery of enterprise modules and contributing to capstone projects. Their involvement ensures that the curriculum remains relevant and practical, aligning with real-world business needs.
The Small Business Charter Award 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. Lancaster University Management School will hold the award for a further 5 years. There are 67 business schools that hold the SBC Award in the UK and Ireland.
Professor Claire Leitch, Executive Dean of Lancaster University Management School, said:
“Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is delighted that we have maintained our SBC accreditation for another five years. We have a long and proud history of providing impactful support to SMEs and student enterprise and entrepreneurship. Our work in this area is a key element of the school’s and university’s civic engagement agenda. We are deeply committed to working with SMEs in our region and beyond to address the global challenges and opportunities facing leaders and managers of small businesses today. We look forward to continuing this important work by leveraging our expertise, experience and networks, and through productive partnerships with SMEs and other stakeholders.”
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said:
“We congratulate Lancaster University Management School for retaining their SBC status. They have continued to demonstrate commitment to supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship and the local economy. Enterprise and entrepreneurship are deeply embedded within the curriculum, and the business school offers outstanding support to SMEs in the Lancashire region and beyond.”