The School of Business, Law, and Society, Southampton Solent University has been awarded the prestigious Small Business Charter accreditation for three years.
The school was praised for its integration of SMEs into the student curriculum, evidenced by the number of live projects and briefs that SMEs have created for students to work on. This provides SMEs with an invaluable resource while giving students the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience as they learn.
The assessors also commended the school for embedding student entrepreneurship at the heart of its curriculum and for the support it provides to student startups, particularly in the creative industries, an area that plays to the strengths of both the university and the regional economy.
Professor Lois Farquharson, Dean of the School of Business, Law and Society said:
"This Small Business Charter accreditation is a strong endorsement of the role Solent plays in supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs and the wider regional economy. We are passionate about connecting learning with practice, helping businesses access expertise and support, and creating opportunities for our students to develop the skills, experience and confidence they need for their futures. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we are proud to work alongside them to drive innovation, growth and positive impact across our region and beyond."
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said:
"We are delighted to welcome the School of Business, Law, and Society at Southampton Solent University back to the Small Business Charter network. The school has built an impressive commitment to student entrepreneurship and SME engagement, providing students and SMEs with invaluable resources. It has established itself as a hub for small business support in its region, and we look forward to seeing its continued impact."
The Small Business Charter is an accreditation assessed by small business leaders, to recognise business schools which are centres of excellence in supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and the local economy.
There are now 70 business schools in the UK, and two internationally in Ireland and Australia, that hold the Small Business Charter accreditation.
Find out more: Solent Business School | Small Business Charter