Stirling Management School makes the cut with small businesses

Stirling Management School has been re-accredited with membership of the Small Business Charter, in recognition of its mission to focus on business growth and entrepreneurship.

The Small Business Charter (SBC) award is a mark of excellence for business schools, which recognises their expertise in supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship and engagement in the local economy.

The Stirling Management School (SMS) was awarded 17 dimensions of the 17 applied for, by a panel comprising The Rt Hon the Lord Young of Graffham, SBC chair Margarita Rodriguez and Anne Kiem, CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools.

Ms Kiem said: “We would like to congratulate Stirling Management School for successfully attaining their reaccreditation.

“The work that they do is vital in supporting small businesses and their local economies, while their commitment to supporting student entrepreneurship and growth remains outstanding.

“We are delighted to continue working with Stirling in the future, especially with the imminent roll out of the Help to Grow management programme.”

Stirling Management School was recently chosen as a partner on Help to Grow: a £250 million UK Government initiative to support business recovery from COVID-19. It will work alongside other SBC-accredited business schools to offer bespoke support and training to SMEs, including a practical management training programme for multiple cohorts of SMEs over the next three years.

To register for Help to Grow visit the Small Business Charter website

Dean of SMS, Professor Kevin Grant

Dean of SMS, Professor Kevin Grant, said: “We are delighted to have our charter renewed for another three years. Stirling Management School has benefited greatly from the recognition of our work with entrepreneurs and small business through the Small Business Charter.

“This accreditation is a clear signal of our strategic focus on business engagement, through a range of business support activities and encouragement of student entrepreneurship. We also benefit from links with other SBC-accredited Schools.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with these schools, entrepreneurs, small businesses and with the SBC.”

Associate Dean of Research at SMS, Professor Oliver Mallett, said: “I think the SBC reaccreditation is a recognition of the broad range of activities engaged in by colleagues across SMS and the wider University to work with entrepreneurial students, local businesses and policymakers. This includes bringing these different stakeholders together, for example through our use of consultancy projects that see students engaging with local businesses.

“There are also significant benefits for the School and our students from the generous contributions of members of our International Advisory Board and Entrepreneur in Residence programme.”

Prof Mallett also cited the Student Enterprise Enhanced Development (SEED) accelerator programme and sponsorship of the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) sustainability awards as contributing examples to the School’s charter success.  

To register for Help to Grow visit the Small Business Charter website