The Small Business Charter has celebrated its 10th anniversary and recognised three business schools for outstanding initiatives in small business support, student enterprise, and stakeholder engagement.
Cranfield School of Management, Dublin City University Business School and Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University were announced as winners of the Small Business Charter Excellence Awards 2024. Now in their second year, the awards for SBC-accredited business schools celebrate outstanding specialist and innovative activity that deliver sustained impact on small business, students and local economies.
The event was the first in a series of events across the UK which will celebrate 10 years of the Small Business Charter and showcase its achievements in delivering against its new mission – empowering small business success through a network of expert business schools.
Launched in 2014, the Small Business Charter accredits world-class business schools for their expertise as centres for excellence supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship, and local economic development.
Today there are 67 accredited business schools within reach of SMEs in every region and nation across the UK and Ireland. Over the past decade the government have recognised the expertise and local connectivity of the Small Business Charter network, funding multiple growth and productivity programmes to be delivered through the business schools.
The 2024 SBC Excellence Awards winners brought into focus the variety of ways the SBC network of business schools has far-reaching impact.
Cranfield School of Management won ‘Outstanding Support for Small Business’
Cranfield School of Management won the Outstanding Support for Small Business Category with its initiative Empowering SMEs to Combat Global Climate Change. Cranfield used its close ties to industry and extensive expertise in technology in collaboration with Green Future Investments to develop a three-stage process to support businesses to positively impact the global climate through technological innovation.
The three funds created: The Future Frontiers Fund, the Technology Accelerator Fund, and an environmentally focused fund enable entrepreneurs to work on innovative ideas and technologies, addressing challenges related to climate change and the pursuit of a net-zero future.
Dublin City University Business School won ‘Outstanding Stakeholder Engagement’
Dublin City University Business School took the award in the Outstanding Stakeholder Engagement category for its work to support business continuity of family businesses. The initiative the National Centre for Family Business (NCFB) was led by DCU’s family business faculty in a unique collaboration involving multiple stakeholders such as Arizona State University, the Journal of Management Studies and the Irish Government. The NCFB engaged over 1,500 family firms across various events and platforms to support current and next-generation family members through its suite of educational offerings.
Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University won ‘Outstanding Commitment to Encouraging Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship’
The Outstanding Commitment to Encouraging Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship category was won by Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School. Their Business Clinic fosters a culture of student enterprise and entrepreneurship through experiential learning and live consultancy. Overseen by a team of academic and professional consultants, students work collaboratively with small businesses to develop creative and innovative solutions that their clients highly value.
Lord Bilimoria CBE, DL, Patron of the Small Business Charter, said:
"These awards are a fitting way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Small Business Charter in demonstrating how our network of expert business schools are empowering small business success. The award winners have shown their unparalleled connections with local businesses in their local economies. Their outstanding ability to support small businesses and entrepreneurs is key to driving local and national economic growth.”
Three further entries were recognised as Highly Commended in the awards ceremony. Manchester Metropolitan University Business School was Highly Commended for its Centre for Enterprise – a foundry for innovation where business meets science. Nottingham Business School was Highly Commended for its ‘Big House Project’ to support the startup process through engagement with established businesses. Dublin City University Business School was also Highly Commended for its Building an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem through its New Enterprise Development initiative.
Jonathan Moules, FT journalist and Chair of Judges, said:
"These awards show the transformational impact of Small Business Charter accredited business schools in empowering small businesses and student entrepreneurs. The vital role business schools play in fostering vibrant and dynamic local economies that are fit to grow is clear from the award winners and the breadth of all the entries we received. As a network of connected and expert business schools they are important partners for SMEs and government in going for growth.”