London South Bank University's School of Business has been awarded a Bronze Charter award by the Small Business Charter, in recognition of their ongoing support for small and medium sized enterprises.

The Small Business Charter awards recognise business schools which actively support the growth of small firms, provide students with tailored start-up support and which engage with a broad base of stakeholders to drive forward the growth agenda. The awards, determined by a team of academic, small business and enterprise education assessors, also create a framework for business schools to provide small businesses with nationally recognised programmes of expert advice and training to help their business grow.

LSBU's School of Business, an IOEE Centre of Excellence, has been recognised for its excellent work in supporting small businesses and for its exceptional understanding of its students’ needs and ambitions. Over the last academic year, LSBU has supported 53 student and graduate start-ups and 130 business ideas, with over 4,500 students also engaging in enterprise activities. LSBU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute also offers students start-up schemes, workshops, competitions and internship placements at a number of small and medium enterprises.

Professor Mike Molan, Dean of the School of Business at LSBU, commented:
“At LSBU our philosophy is very much to use the expertise in the School of Business to support the enterprise aspirations of our students as well as the growth and expansion of start-ups and SMEs in our local community. This award recognises our efforts to bring businesses, students and entrepreneurs together, to drive local economic growth.”

Working with LSBU, IOEE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Trouten said:
“LSBU’s School of Business shows clear evidence of an enterprising organisation displaying a strong enterprising and entrepreneurial culture. There is a great commitment from the School of Business to engage with outside professional bodies, to support small businesses and to encourage students to develop their enterprise learning and skills through extra curricula activities. The School is very student focussed with a real balance between enterprise and entrepreneurship, ensuring that students are supported in whichever pathway they choose – balancing their efforts in helping them to be more employable and/or supporting them into self employment.”