Oxford Brookes Business School awarded Small Business Charter status
In recognition of its outstanding support for small businesses, student and social entrepreneurship and commitment to the local economy, Oxford Brookes Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter Award.
The Small Business Charter Award is a national accreditation, assessed by small business leaders, and Oxford Brookes Business School now joins 36 other institutions who hold the award across the UK and Ireland.
Work with social enterprises praised by assessors
Assessors for the award were highly impressed by Oxford Brookes Business School’s work with Social Enterprise, and work to support the region for over 40 years. Oxford Brookes Business School was instrumental in the creation of the Oxford Social Enterprise Partnership (OSEP) to support Social Enterprises in Oxford and the wider region.
The latest innovations were also noted, including the new Entrepreneurs in Residence and Visiting Industrial Fellows schemes. These bring in greater levels of expertise across global industries and form a network that benefits from, and contributes to the local ecosystem - connecting students, graduates and external stakeholders.
A culture of enterprise and support for businesses
Anne Kiem OBE, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “We congratulate everyone at Oxford Brookes Business School for a really impressive application, which reflected the importance the school places on supporting local SMEs. They should be rightly proud of their achievement of the Small Business Charter Award.”
Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School, said: “I am tremendously proud of the culture of enterprise at Oxford Brookes Business School and across the wider University, and I am delighted that our work with small business has been recognised by the Small Business Charter.”
“At Oxford Brookes we are passionate about student entrepreneurship and enterprise, and we have been working with a wide-range of entrepreneurs and SMEs through our teaching, training and research. Thanks to the Small Business Charter award, we are now looking forward to extending our work over the coming months which will see Oxford Brookes Business School support the resilience and growth of small businesses in Oxford, Oxfordshire and beyond.”
Oxford Brookes Business School has extended its support for local businesses offering partnership and training to help companies recover, reassess and grow.
Oxford Brookes Business School will hold the award for five years.