The Chartered Association of Business Schools’ Annual Conference was attended by over 400 delegates from business schools, government and the wider education sector. This year we were delighted to welcome a large number of representatives from our growing Small Business Charter community.
In his opening remarks, Chair of the Chartered ABS, Professor Robert MacIntosh, celebrated that more than half of the Chartered ABS members are now accredited with the SBC. This means that there are business schools in every part of the UK recognised for their expertise in supporting small businesses.
Members from our 67 SBC accredited schools were celebrated at the conference through our SBC “Impact Map”, which enabled colleagues to share their recent activity in supporting and connecting small businesses to our academic communities, influential business networks, and our students and graduates.
The conference was a brilliant platform on which to launch the 2024 SBC Excellence Awards, set to coincide with next year’s tenth anniversary of the SBC. Returning for a second year, the awards are the opportunity for business schools that hold the SBC accreditation to showcase specialist activity that delivers sustainable impact and legacy. Schools must submit their nominations by 26 February.
In his keynote address, Kevin Hollinrake MP celebrated the UK’s success as a home for start-up businesses. The Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business acknowledged the need to transition these start-ups into scale-ups and highlighted the great value in the SBC’s Help to Grow: Management Course in providing support and advice.
Chair of the SBC, Michael Hayman MBE used the occasion to commemorate the outstanding career of our late Patron, Lord David Young, who saw the great potential of business schools as catalysts for economic growth. As a pioneer in this area, Lord Young helped to found the SBC and enable it to become the powerhouse it is today. Through the highly successful Help to Grow: Management Course, the SBC delivers high quality leadership training and business growth support through business schools across the UK.
During an SBC breakout session, chaired by Professor Tim Vorley OBE, speakers offered insight into the innovative ways business schools are helping SMEs to scale and innovate, and nurture student enterprise and entrepreneurship. The panel discussed the important work SBC accredited business schools are doing in placing themselves at the heart of the community and acting as a driving force for growth. It provided exemplars of creating a personalised approach to SME support.
At the Gala Dinner held at Drapers’ Hall, the inaugural Lord Young lecture was delivered by Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL: Founder of Cobra Beer and Fellow of the Chartered ABS. As newly appointed Patron of the Small Business Charter, Lord Bilimoria honored the life of his predecessor in a moving tribute. He shared memories of his hero who, at 90 years old, “never stopped working!” The SBC was honored to celebrate his remarkable life, to which British business owes a huge amount. In the words of Michael Hayman, the “lecture starts an inspiring tradition and establishes a powerful voice to underpin the vital work of our outstanding business schools.”
The conference provided a dynamic setting for members of the SBC community to come together in celebration of their achievements and to form new ideas to further advance their impact in supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and their local economies.