Stirling Management School’s active support of local economic growth has today received national acknowledgement.
Its work with start-ups and small businesses has been rewarded with a Small Business Charter Bronze Award.
The Charter connects Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) communities with world class business and management school knowledge, facilities and networks across the UK.
The Awards were established by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, Lord Young and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and are made following rigorous assessment.
Highlights at Stirling Management School over the past year include hosting a three-day ‘Solutions for Business’ networking event, judging Clackmannanshire Business Gateway’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ entrepreneurial competition, and supporting the first Business Week held by STEP, Stirling’s business support organisation.
Business Friends of the Management School - experienced industry contacts for students - include Ann M Morrison, founder of award-winning Labels4Kids, Ross Tuffee, founding Director of Dogfish Mobile and Maureen Blenkharn, Managing Director of McAdam King Recruitment.
The Management School is sponsor of the SME Management category at this year’s Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards, which recognise sustainable champions.
Professor Sharon Bolton, Head of Stirling Management School, said: "The University of Stirling Management School has had a long tradition of working with local organisations including SMEs.
"The Chartered Association of Business Schools Small Business Charter award is both testament to that past, but more importantly it is a statement of our intent for the future.
"The University of Stirling Management School is open for business, whether that is through education including student internships or placements, research or consulting."
Ian McNaught, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, said: "The 27 Charter awarded business schools continue to positively influence regional economic growth through engaging small businesses and supporting start-ups. They are key players in their local economies and they are rightly being recognised for that commitment."
The 27 business schools across the UK have already directly helped over 8000 small businesses. Alongside Stirling, several have today joined the ranks, and a number of current holders have had their award upgraded.
Notes for editors
- Background information
University of Stirling Management School
Stirling Management School believes that management matters, and it supports a sustainable future for business and society. Students develop leadership skills vital for businesses and organisations across the world. With internationally recognised and accredited courses, Stirling Management School takes a very modern, career-focused approach to higher education delivery. Nine out of 10 of its graduates find relevant employment within six months of completing their degree, and the School has an extensive alumni network. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 the School was ranked within the UK’s top 25 institutions (the top quarter) for Business and Management. Over 90 per cent of its research impact is rated either world-leading or internationally excellent. Stirling Management School is ranked 2nd in Scotland and in the UK top 20 for Marketing (Complete University Guide 2016), and 3rd in Scotland for Economics (Guardian League Table 2016).
www.stir.ac.uk/managementMore information about the Small Business Charter can be found at: http://smallbusinesscharter.org
The Chartered Association of Business Schools is online at http://charteredabs.org/