24 focus on M27 & southampton
Solent celebrates award- winning Business School
Southampton Solent University is celebrating after becoming one of the first universities in the country to be awarded The Small Business Charter
“Our focus is very clearly on engaging with the local business community, building relationships with them and understanding the challenges they face so we can in turn utilise our skills and experience to help meet those needs and unlock their future potential.“
Stark says while many business schools focus on course-based learning, Solent’s approach is much broader.
He added: “We can support SMEs with a broad range of products and services and, because we are not commercially driven, our emphasis is on adding value. Whether a business wants to give us a live brief for our students to work on and provide ideas as part of their studies; if they want to take a student on placement; or if they want access to top academics to support their senior management team; we have the expertise available.
“Not only do we provide fantastic value to the businesses we work with, but it’s also extremely rewarding for us to see successful results.“
Gaining the award means the Business School can now access various government and other initiatives including Growth Vouchers, Growth Accelerators and start-up loans to help provide funding to SMEs.
Professor Georgina Andrews (right), director of Southampton Solent Business School, with Lord Young (left), the prime minister’s adviser on enterprise, and Sir Peter Bonfield CBE FREng
The Charter, which recognises UK business schools with “exceptional levels of engagement“ among the local small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business community, was presented to Professor Georgina Andrews, director of Southampton Solent Business School, at a special ceremony at Number 10 Downing Street on June 5.
Solent’s success is all the more impressive because it is the only business school on the south coast to have achieved the Charter.
Andrews said: “I am really delighted. This was a real team effort and a great honour. This award really played to our strengths. Not only are our courses very entrepreneurial, but many of our students are also entrepreneurs who start their own businesses both during and after their degree courses.
“We are also fortunate to have excellent partnerships with the external business community, both through our professional networks, and organisations such as the Chambers of Trade, Local Enterprise Partnerships and the local authorities, all of whom we work closely with to channel support for local businesses.
“We see the award as a great platform from which to expand our work still further and continue to strengthen our links with the business community.“
In order to gain the Charter, which is a joint initiative between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Association
www.businessmag.co.uk
of Business Schools, the university had to demonstrate “good practice“ in the way that it supports the growth of small firms; engages with other stakeholders in the growth agenda; and provides students with relevant start-up support.
And, as part of the process, assessors spent a day talking to students and touring the facilities.
With its emphasis on employability and enterprise, the university was able to show that its activities more than met the criteria.
Over 2,000 students are currently studying at the Business School on a wide range of business-related courses – from foundation degrees and HNDs to masters and PhDs – giving them the opportunity to work in partnership with local businesses.
In addition, the university provides incubator space for up to 20 SMEs and seed funding of approximately £80,000 per year, as well as hosting numerous employability and enterprise events, awards and societies. Over the past decade, it has supported a minimum of 40 study business start-ups per year, with 40% still trading after three years.
Jo Stark, head of Solent Enterprise Centre, said: “Being awarded the Charter is a real endorsement of the expertise, abilities and capabilities that we have here in the Business School and we’re very keen to hear from more SMEs who can potentially benefit from our support.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JULY/AUGUST 2014
Andrews says it’s an important move and the university can help SMEs to apply for matched funding programmes, enabling them to gain the financial support they need to press ahead with various projects.
“Our message is come and talk to us, we can help you,“ she concluded. “We are a different type of university which is genuinely interested in working with the SME community and making a difference. It’s that focus which sets us apart from our competitors.“
Case study
Local company Thinking Space benefited after the university’s Dr Michele Towell, senior lecturer in HR management, provided leadership and training for its management team funded by the SSU Strategic Development Programme. The initial training included performance management, coaching and communication skills, and was followed by a customer service training day for staff. The business now employs one of the university’s graduates and has senior academic support once a week.
Details:
www.solent.ac.uk
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