LSBU Business School gains prestigious Small Business Charter Award
LSBU Business School has been presented with a Bronze award from the Small Business Charter for demonstrating excellence in supporting SMEsLondon South Bank University (LSBU)’s support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has been recognised by the Small Business Charter, who have presented the School with a Bronze Charter Award.
The Small Business Charter awards recognise business schools which actively support the growth of small firms, provide students with tailored start-up support and which engage with a broad base of stakeholders to drive forward the growth agenda. The awards, determined by a team of academic, small business and enterprise education assessors, also create a framework for business schools to provide small businesses with nationally recognised programmes of expert advice and training to help their business grow.
Over the last academic year, LSBU has supported 53 student and graduate start-ups and 130 business ideas, with over 4,500 students also engaging in enterprise activities. LSBU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute also offers students start-up schemes, workshops, competitions and internship placements at a number of SMEs.
Professor Mike Molan, Dean of LSBU Business School, commented: “At LSBU our philosophy is very much to use the expertise in LSBU Business School to support the enterprise aspirations of our students as well as the growth and expansion of start-ups and SMEs in our local community. This award recognises our efforts to bring businesses, students and entrepreneurs together, to drive local economic growth.”
Anne Kiem, Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools and Interim Executive Director of the Small Business Charter said, “The Small Business Charter is delighted to announce that London South Bank University has been awarded the Small Business Charter Bronze award. It is fantastic to see that the business school has helped many local businesses grow and have a focus on how they can help SMEs and encourage enterprise.
“LSBU has demonstrated high quality business support, engagement and research and the enterprise linked support to students particularly stands out. We welcome LSBU to our Charter network of 32 award winning schools.”
LSBU’s recently concluded Investment Escalator programme engaged with 594 London-based SMEs, which raised a total of £97,000 in finance and created 22 new jobs. LSBU is currently running Momentum, a specialised programme for SMEs who want to accelerate their growth.
Find out more about enterprise opportunities at LSBU.