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LSBU achieves 'highly commended' in Enterprising Britain awards
LSBU achieves ‘highly commended’ in the Enterprising Britain 2018 awards for the University’s approach to building and enterprise skills trainingLondon South Bank University (LSBU) has achieved ‘highly commended’ in the Enterprising Britain 2018 awards for the University’s approach to building and enterprise – in particular for its successful creation of The Clarence Centre, which has become a thriving hub for local businesses and enterprise skills.
LSBU initially created the Clarence Centre as the University’s enterprise and business skills hub, by amalgamating 17 Grade II listed Georgian terraces and the former Duke of Clarence public house, which first opened in the 1820s. Before the Centre opened, these buildings were in a state of disrepair and created a visible barrier between the University and local community. Through the creation of the Centre, the University has renovated these important local landmarks, while also creating a new, open gateway to the university campus, demonstrating LSBU’s commitment to the physical and economic regeneration of the local area.
Since opening in 2013, the Clarence Centre has provided a focal point for the University’s enterprise and innovation activity on campus. It is a home for LSBU student and graduate entrepreneurs and the Research, Enterprise and Innovation team, alongside 18 small and medium-sized enterprises' (SME) tenants.
It provides a unique environment for LSBU students and alumni entrepreneurs to work alongside SME tenants, offering opportunities for skills development and start-up support.
Over the last three years the Centre has worked with over 13,000 students and graduates who have participated in curricular and extra-curricular enterprise activity. LSBU has also supported 60 new business start-ups through the Centre’s programmes this year.
Professor Paul Ivey, LSBU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and External Engagement said: “I am delighted to see that LSBU’s efforts to establish a centre for enterprise and innovation in the heart of South East London are being recognised with this important ‘Enterprising Britain’ award.
“The Clarence Centre has brought together our support for students, alumni, entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses into a single building, creating an original and unique enterprise eco-system in south London. There is no comparable model in the south of the city and our work has helped to stimulate innovation in an area that is historically under-developed and has huge potential.
“This award will help to establish LSBU still further as a centre for enterprise and innovation – building as it does on our Times Higher Education award for enterprise and innovation in 2016.”
The Enterprising Britain Awards are part of the Government's drive to support entrepreneurial activity in the UK. Managed by Investment in Young People on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), these awards celebrate the work of public sector and government-backed organisations that support and encourage entrepreneurialism across the UK. Now in their fifteenth year, these awards are given in four categories: ‘Start-Up Spirit’, ‘Support for Exporting’, ‘Building Enterprise Skills’ and ‘Improving the Business Environment’.
Read more about the Enterprising Britain awards.