University celebrates progress after receiving Small Business Charter accreditation

Leeds Trinity University Business School is celebrating further progress after it was successful in obtaining the Small Business Charter (SBC) accreditation for the next three years.

The nationally recognised SBC award is granted to business schools that play an effective role in supporting small businesses, local economies and student entrepreneurship. To achieve the SBC award, schools undergo a rigorous assessment to determine the depth and effectiveness of their business engagement and support.

Following its assessment in late 2023, the Leeds Trinity Business School has now officially received accreditation, having achieved 20 of the 23 dimensions it applied for. Assessors were particularly impressed by the consistent and clear commitment of Leeds Trinity’s Business School to social mobility and employability, as well as its outreach which has led to projects, placements and successful employment for students.

The accreditation means that the Business School will now be able to deliver national programmes to support economic growth, such as the Help to Grow Management course, which is designed to boost the performance and resilience of businesses.

The staff and students from the School will also have access to a community of knowledge and a network of other business schools with a shared interest in enterprise and small business support, and nationwide advocacy through the SBC’s government affairs and media relations.

Flora Hamilton, CEO of Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “We congratulate Leeds Trinity University’s Business School on its Small Business Charter accreditation. They have developed a great reputation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support and have effectively embedded entrepreneurship into the School’s curriculum. It is fantastic that the School uses links with regional stakeholders to create a framework of support for SMEs in the Yorkshire region, and we’re delighted to endorse their impact through the SBC accreditation.”

Professor Yanguo Jing, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and Digital Industries at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Colleagues from Leeds Trinity University Business School and from the wider University community have been very active in supporting small businesses, local economies and our student entrepreneurship. I am delighted that this has been recognised with the Small Business Charter Award accreditation.

“This significant milestone for our Business School wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and commitment of everyone from Leeds Trinity University who have contributed towards each element of the award. We look forward to working with the Small Business Charter towards supporting small businesses and our students in achieving many more entrepreneurial successes.”

The accreditation is the latest achievement for the Leeds Trinity Business School, which is one of the fastest-growing business schools in the UK. It recently joined the Business Graduates Association, having also gained full membership of the Chartered Association of Business Schools (ABS).

These developments come as the Business School prepares to move to the University’s new Leeds City Campus, located at 1 Trevelyan Square in the very heart of the city, for the 2024/25 academic year.

Emilee Simmons, Interim Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and Digital Industries, said: “The recent progress made by the Leeds Trinity University Business School is very exciting to witness and be a part of. Established in 2022, the Business School is quickly developing and making Leeds Trinity University an increasingly attractive option for prospective business students.

“We are determined to make sure that the Business School continues on its current trajectory. The upcoming move to our new Leeds City Campus later this year will undoubtedly help us in doing that as we establish a larger presence in the city centre and have further opportunities to work with employers and provide development opportunities for our talented students.”