The winners of the 2026 Small Business Charter Excellence Awards were announced at the annual Small Business Charter Summer Reception. Congratulations to Edge Hill University Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, and Nottingham University Business School for their award-winning work to win this year’s awards.
London South Bank University Business School, Leeds University Business School, and Kingston Business School took home Highly Commended in their respective categories.
The Small Business Charter Excellence Awards are the opportunity for business schools that hold SBC accreditation to showcase outstanding specialist activity that delivers sustainable impact and legacy.
Edge Hill University Business School won ‘Outstanding Support for Small Business’
Edge Hill University Business School won the Outstanding Support for Small Business category through its Productivity and Innovation Centre, which helps to drive SME and regional growth through innovation, leadership and AI. Initiatives including the High Growth Innovation Sprint, Leadership for Growth, and AI Adoption Readiness have reached SMEs across all primary sectors to achieve impact. The High Growth Innovation Sprint alone has supported 353 SMEs since inception, creating 483 jobs, 174 new or improved products and services, and a 14.2:1 return on public funding.
London South Bank University claimed Highly Commended in this category, for its initiative ‘Connecting for Impact’.
Manchester Metropolitan University Business School won ‘Outstanding Stakeholder Engagement’
Manchester Metropolitan University Business School took the award in the Outstanding Stakeholder Engagement category for its Centre for Enterprise (CfE) which supports small business innovation, growth, and productivity. To date, the Centre has helped over 3000 firms create more than 550 jobs, and 350 new products through £48M of funded programmes, each focused on research translation, leadership development, and innovation capability. Each of the programmes offered by the CfE are co-designed with local businesses, ensuring stakeholder insight shapes delivery and continuous improvement. Events run by the CfE, including the Festival of Innovation, strengthens regional innovation ecosystems, supports measurable growth and builds lasting networks designed to generate value beyond programme completion.
Leeds University Business School was awarded Highly Commended in this category for its ‘Innovative Entrepreneurs’ programme.
Nottingham University Business School won ‘Outstanding Support for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship’
The Outstanding Support for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship category was won by Nottingham University Business School with their Haydn Green Institute Ingenuity Lab. The Lab provides mentoring, training and incubation for student enterprise skills development through 21 academic staff, 12 Professors of Practice and 60 Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. To date, the Lab has supported 910 start-ups and attracted over £4.3M of investment.
Kingston Business School was awarded Highly Commended in this category for its ‘Hybrid Enterprise Ecosystem’.
Sarah Willingham, Chair of the Judges, said:
“My fellow judges and I were incredibly impressed by the high standard of entries across all three categories this year. The work going on at Small Business Charter accredited business schools is mind-blowing and clearly demonstrates how they are playing such an active and vital role in driving national and regional economic growth by empowering SME businesses and their leaders, as well as students, in their entrepreneurial journeys. My warmest congratulations to all three winners and those who were highly commended.”
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, said:
"These awards are a fitting way to celebrate 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.”