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Aston awarded mark of approval
Aston University has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark for providing vital support to businesses that put people and planet before profit. The accreditation means Aston
University has itself been recognised as a social enterprise for the work it does in supporting and developing many other social enterprises. The Social Enterprise Mark is the
only internationally available accreditation for organisations that proves they place the interests of society and the environment before shareholder gain. Social enterprises are different to
traditional businesses in that most of the money made will fulfil a social purpose, or is reinvested in the enterprise itself, its projects or a charitable arm. The more successful a social enterprise is the more social benefit it can deliver. Supporting social enterprise is
key to Aston’s mission to be the leading university for business and the professions, as well as promoting business as a force for good. The university has supported
more than 150 social enterprises through a wide range of programmes. In addition, 30 Aston students
took part in Social Storm – an international competition where students are given 24 hours to tackle housing and food security issues with sustainable ideas. As well as providing practical support, Aston University is also at the forefront of academic research in this field. Ute Stephan, Professor of
Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School, is a lead researcher on a EU-funded project (SEFORIS – Social Entrepreneurship as a Force for more Innovative and Inclusive Societies) exploring how social enterprises thrive in different contexts and how they change their contexts to create positive social change. Other recent projects include
‘Identifying Social Enterprise’ funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Policy & Government Inclusive Economy Unit, UK, and ‘Business- driven Social Change’ funded by the Network of Business Sustainability, Canada.
New figures from NatWest show lending to the technology, media and telecoms (TMT) sector across the UK increased by more than 11 per cent year on year to May 2017. NatWest’s TMT team lent more
than £9bn in the year to the end of April 2017 – an increase of nearly £2bn from the previous year. But for many new tech
businesses there are many questions around financing, particularly around what type of financing is best to support the business’ overall growth strategy. NatWest and its partner Lombard
Technology Services offer a Software Licence Solution product for intellectual property (IP). The Software Licence Solution
helps customers to release capital that’s locked into software which they can then use to invest in their business. Richard Parks (pictured),
relationship director and West Midlands TMT lead at NatWest, said: “At NatWest we offer a range
‘It’s essential that a business uses a funding stream that best supports their need’
of solutions for tech businesses at different stages of their life cycle, from our partnership work through the Entrepreneurial Spark accelerator programme, traditional working capital and loan funding, through to specialist solutions like the Software License Solution.
Contact: Henrietta Brealey T: 0121 607 1898
Tech sector boosted by £2bn lending increase
“The Software Licence Solution is
a fantastic and unique way that businesses can further develop their IP without utilising existing working capital lines or raising additional equity. “For any SME that is looking for
funding, it’s essential that a business uses a funding stream that best supports their need. “This may not be a traditional
bank loan. We work with external partners including Birmingham- based accountants and business advisers Friend Partnership Limited, who can offer specialist advice to businesses on what solutions may be best.” Denise Friend, corporate finance
partner at Friend Partnership Limited said IP can be an incredibly valuable asset to a tech business. She said: “NatWest can provide
funding through IP finance. NatWest gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their business by raising essential finance against their intellectual property assets.”
BMet in food and drink skills drive
A new food and drink manufacturing training academy has been established by BMet, with industry backing. With help from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and Tulip Limited, the college has developed new facilities to support the sector’s growth. Paula Cresswell, business
development director at BMet, said: “Over 17,000 new jobs in food and drink manufacturing will be created between now and 2022, with 2,000 of these in the West Midlands. The sector also faces the additional challenges of an ageing workforce. “Our aim is to help drive ambitions for growth and innovation by improving workforce skills and encouraging employer collaboration. This will lead to the development of further training programmes to support productivity and
20 CHAMBERLINK December 2017/January 2018
New academy: BMet principal Andrew Cleaves with Justine Fosh and Tulip Foods apprentices Steph Williams and Ben Mawdsley
efficiency needs.” More than 30 apprentices are
currently studying a food and drink engineering maintenance (FDEM) trailblazer qualification at James Watt College, with 240 learners, a combination of apprentices, jobseekers and students on university level programmes expected to begin qualifications over the next 12 months.
Justine Fosh, chief executive of
the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, added: “Having worked closely with BMet to support their funding bids, we look forward to seeing the progress they make in shaping our future skills landscape.” A successful GBSLEP funding
bid has resulted in BMet sourcing new advanced manufacturing equipment for apprentices to use.
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