Member Article

Manchester Metropolitan University is awarded elite Small Business Charter Mark

- MMU attains status as a Small Business Charter School, one of 20 UK trailblazer universities.

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (MMU) has gained the Small Business Charter Mark in recognition of its consistent success and long track record in championing business start-up, small business growth, enterprise learning and knowledge exchange.

The prestigious award was presented at a ceremony at 10 Downing Street to celebrate Britain’s first Small Business Charter institutions.

The award was earned through MMU Business School’s work in all aspects of small firm development. As an example, MMU Centre for Enterprise has supported more than 2000 small businesses and 8000 aspiring student entrepreneurs, helping to establish more than 300 new start-ups and generate an entrepreneurial culture among its students.

MMU is a regional leader in providing specialised support for small businesses. As one of only four UK delivery partners for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme, MMU has worked with 181 of the most ambitious regional businesses and its Knowledge Action Network programme is also helping the region’s small and medium sized companies to achieve a step change in business performance.

The participants in such programmes are making a significant contribution to the local economy. A recent study of 85 SMEs showed that they had generated a collective turnover increase of £47 million and 344 new jobs, since engaging with MMU.

The Small Business Charter Mark recognises the impact of this work and will bring significant benefits to regional companies. It means that MMU will add to its current role in government-funded initiatives, such as Growth Vouchers and Start-up Loans - providing the means to directly invest in new start-ups and in entrepreneurs.

Professor Ruth Ashford, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, commented: “We’re proud to join an elite group of Charter Mark Business Schools, but we are even prouder of our achievements in boosting growth and enterprise in the North West. We look forward to accessing new government funding to extend our support to small businesses - to support local enterprise and job creation.”

The Small Business Charter Mark originated following Lord Young’s report ‘Growing Your Business’, which was aimed at bringing business schools, businesses and entrepreneurs closer together to deliver real change. It offers a springboard to unlock support and investment for students, start-ups and small businesses.

Congratulating the Small Business Charter Mark award-winners for their trail-blazing work, Lord Young, adviser to the Prime Minister on small business and enterprise, said: “The award recipients have all demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving links with and supporting small businesses in their local area. Our world-class universities and business schools are a key part of the UK economy. I hope that these awards will be the first of many and build on the outstanding work our business schools do to boost enterprise locally.”

Sir Peter Bonfield CBE FReng, Chair of the Small Business Charter Management Board, said: “I am delighted to be involved with the Small Business Charter Mark. This is an exciting initiative, which recognises the value of small businesses. We have a tremendous opportunity to nurture innovation and enterprise and support the next generation of great British entrepreneurs.”

Further information: www.mmucfe.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Manchester Metropolitan University Centre for Enterprise .