Northumbria University's
Newcastle Business School has secured reaccreditation with the Small Business
Charter Award, a mark of excellence recognising business schools which are
centres of excellence in supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and
the local economy.
Originally achieving Small Business Charter status in 2015, Northumbria was the first institution in the North East to
receive the award. The reaccreditation extends Northumbria’s recognition for a
further five years, cementing its status as a leading supporter of
entrepreneurship and small business growth in the North East.
The awarding panel praised the
University for playing a vital role within its local economy through its
emphasis on experiential learning which supports the development of SMEs and
provides students with practical learning opportunities on how to run a
business.
Assessors highlighted the
role of Northumbria’s Business Clinic, a student-led consultancy service which
provides final-year business students with real-world experience while offering
pro-bono support to SMEs, multi-national organisations, charitable
organisations, educational trusts and social enterprises. The award-winning
service has delivered over 870 consultancy projects involving more than 3,500
students across all business subjects since it was established in 2013.
Last month, The Business Clinic hosted
‘A Simple Guide to Social Impact Investment Vehicles’, a free session designed
to help charities access private investment and craft compelling pitches that
resonate with investors. Drawing on research funded by The Marketing Trust, the
event covered social impact investment vehicles, accessing investor capital,
and pitching with confidence.
Flora Hamilton, Executive
Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of
the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “We
are delighted to reaccredit Newcastle Business School with
the Small Business Charter in recognition of their
exceptional support to small businesses and their significant
contributions to regional economic growth and local innovation.
“Newcastle Business School
exemplifies the vital role business schools play in fostering growth
and innovation among SMEs, as well as the important civic role they fulfil in
their communities. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with them as
part of the SBC network.”
Northumbria’s support for
entrepreneurs and small businesses also includes its Incubator Hub, a pre-accelerator facility supporting current students and graduate start-ups. The University has
been ranked in the top 10 in the UK for the last 16 years for graduate start-ups based
on aggregate turnover, according to the Higher Education Business Community
Interaction Survey (2023/24), and has been placed in the top five for 13 of
those years. This ecosystem of support helps drive economic growth and job
creation throughout the North East.
Maintaining the
accreditation also positions Northumbria to access additional funding streams
and collaborative opportunities with the Small Business Charter network. This
includes the government-backed Help to Grow Management programme, which supports SMEs
across the UK to strengthen their business practices and leadership
capabilities.
Professor Matthew Brannan, Head of Newcastle Business School at
Northumbria University, said: "Securing Small Business Charter
reaccreditation is a testament to our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs
and small businesses across the North East. It reflects the work of a team led
by the Business School but involving colleagues from across the University.
This recognition highlights the significant impact our students, staff and
programmes have in driving regional economic growth by powering an inclusive
economy and supporting social mobility.
“As we continue to navigate an evolving
economic landscape, this reaccreditation strengthens our ability to deliver
transformational support that makes a real difference to the region's business
community. We look forward to continuing that work."
For
more information on business support from Northumbria please visit: www.northumbria.ac.uk/business
