Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University has been accredited with the Small Business Charter in recognition of its work to support small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and the local economy.
The school has demonstrated its commitment to nurturing SME growth in Leicestershire through an array of high-quality leadership development programmes. These include REBOUND, a workshop series addressing the specific needs of African and Caribbean SMEs, and the SBC’s own Help to Grow: Management Course.
The panel were particularly impressed by the school’s strong external profile with the local SME ecosystem and stakeholders. A strategic partnership with the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce has resulted in many joint activities, including the East Midlands Top 500 Companies, the Business Research and Intelligence Unit, and the Accelerator Project, which delivered on parts of a £1 million Culture Recovery Fund grant.
There is also detailed evidence to show the school supports student enterprise and entrepreneurship. Highlights of this include, DMU Works (an award-winning careers service) and Fox’s Lair (De Montfort University’s answer to Dragon’s Den).
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. Leicester Castle Business School will hold the award for a further 5 years. There are 67 business schools that hold the Small Business Charter in the UK and Ireland.
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools said:
“We congratulate Leicester Castle Business School for achieving its SBC status. The school maintains strong strategic partnerships which play a vital role in supporting small businesses and its local economy, and it is encouraging to see such innovative support for student entrepreneurship. We are delighted to work with Leicester Castle Business School, especially as delivery partners for the Help to Grow: Management Course."