Strathclyde receives Small Business Charter Award for work with local business
Gordon McAlpine (right) and Professor Eleanor Shaw at Downing Street
Strathclyde Business School has received the Small Business Charter Award in recognition of its work to support start-ups and small businesses.
Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Professor Eleanor Shaw, travelled to 10 Downing Street with Strathclyde alumnus and entrepreneur Gordon McAlpine, to receive the award on June 5.
Professor Shaw said, "Here at Strathclyde Business School and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, we are thrilled to be part of this vanguard of business schools which have been given the new Small Business Charter Award. We are one of just 20 business schools across the country to be recognised for our work with local business and enterprise development and it is a fantastic accolade to receive this award.
"Ranging from our BA Business Enterprise Undergraduate Degree through to our many engagements with small, local firms through student placements, internships and staff and student consultancy projects, we are delighted to have this external validation of our strong commitment to and engagement with Scotland's entrepreneurial communities."
Lord Young, the Government's Adviser on Enterprise, hosted a celebration ceremony to award 20 business schools the new Small Business Charter Award. Over 800 new businesses have already been started as a result of Small Business Charter schools.
Although only in its first year, the Small Business Charter Award Scheme has attracted business schools from across the country, with 14% of all business schools having joined in year one and the SBC has ambitious plans for further growth.
The recipients of the award have all demonstrated exceptional dedication to helping improve links with and support the small business community in the local area. Award-winning schools collectively offer on-site incubators with dedicated space for students and small businesses to start up and grow, a dedicated Small Business Growth & Leadership programme driving real impact and a strong full time support network of alumni and local business experts to support both students and small businesses.
The award also brings significant benefits for successful business schools. They will have the ability to play an active role in schemes such as Growth Vouchers, Growth Accelerators and Start-Up Loans provided by the Government – meaning they can directly invest in new start-ups and entrepreneurs.
The awards were presented by Lord Young, enterprise adviser to the Prime Minister and Sir Peter Bonfield, chair of The Small Business Charter Management Board and former chairman of BT.
The Small Business Charter originated following Lord Young’s report 'Growing Your Business', which was aimed at bringing business schools, business and entrepreneurs closer together to deliver real change. Supported by the Association of Business Schools, Lord Young and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills the Small Business Charter Awards offers a springboard to unlocking support and investment for students, start-ups and small businesses. The Charter also follows the Association of Business Schools' Innovation Taskforce report.
Congratulating the Small Business Charter award-winners for their trail-blazing work, Lord Young – an adviser to the Prime Minister on small business and enterprise, said, "The recipients of today's award have all demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving links with and supporting small businesses in their local area, already creating over 800 jobs.
"Our world-class universities and business schools are a key part of the UK economy – even more so as a result of this initiative.
"I hope that these awards will be the first of many and build on the outstanding work our business schools do to boost enterprise locally."
Rekha Mehr, interim Managing Director, Small Business Charter, said, "Micro-businesses make up 95% of UK businesses and play a crucial role in the structure of our economy. We need to further their growth and the Small Business Charter recognises UK business schools who are doing just that. Our accredited schools have made real impact in the last 18 months, directly supporting over 8,000 businesses, placing over 4,700 students on real business projects and helping students to start over 800 new businesses."
