University of Southampton Business School and Worcester Business School have been reaccredited with the Small Business Charter (SBC) for supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and their regional economies.
The University of Southampton Business School has been reaccredited for five years for clearly demonstrating a strong strategic commitment to SME engagement and enterprise. The school was praised for providing a visible and accessible front door for SMEs in addition to fostering cross-faculty collaboration which provides the school with a distinct opportunity to further develop their SME engagement and impact. The Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Unit is a clear example of the school's impact, which has significantly improved the SME experience and engagement.
Professor Laura Costanzo, Dean, University of Southampton Business School (USBS), said:
"We are delighted to have received the Small Business Charter reaccreditation for the next five years and see the significant progress that USBS has made since the last accreditation, embedding SBC principles across our strategy and operations. We view the SBC as a cornerstone of our school’s enterprise mission and will continue using its framework to support SMEs, advance the civic agenda, student enterprise, and employability. We are proud to belong to a community of business schools dedicated to real-world change and look forward to continuing this journey with the support of the charter."
Worcester Business School has been reaccredited for three years. The panel of assessors commended the school for being approachable to SMEs and encouraging them to seek support. The assessors also praised the school for fostering a supportive environment for student enterprise, highlighting the success of the Business Opportunities Sponsorship Support (BOSS) student start-up competition. The initiative provides structured access to funding, expert mentoring, and engagement with alumni entrepreneurs, resulting in students who have translated early-stage ideas into viable ventures.
Dr Scott Andrews, the Head of the University of Worcester’s Business School said:
“We are delighted to receive news that the Business School has been successful in the re-accreditation of the Small Business Charter. This is so important to us and to the region because it recognises the University’s contribution in this field. We are able to offer small businesses important access to networks and opportunities to grow their impact, while helping SMEs find trusted expertise for tailored guidance, education, and support to drive growth.”
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said:
“We are delighted to reaccredit University of Southampton Business School and Worcester Business School with the Small Business Charter. Both schools have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting small businesses. Each school plays a vital role within its local economy, and we are pleased to continue working with both schools as part of the SBC network.”
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 67 business schools in the UK, and two internationally in Ireland and Australia, that hold the Small Business Charter accreditation.