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Drinks company fined after employee loses finger
Nottingham Business School joins world top 1% with ‘triple crown’ accreditation
Nottingham Business School (NBS) has joined the 1% of business schools in the world to hold triple accreditation for excellence after receiving a global mark of recognition for its MBA and Masters courses from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
NBS, part of Nottingham Trent University, already holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation, two of the most important marks of quality in business education, and is now one of only 129 universities across the globe to have been awarded all three.
Its latest accolade from AMBA demonstrates that NBS has met the highest standards in teaching, learning and curriculum design, career development and employability, and student, alumni and employer interaction.
AMBA only accredits programmes from the top 2% of business schools in five continents and limits the number of institutions to 300.
The assessment also led to Business Graduates Association (BGA) accreditation, which recognises positive impact, responsible management, and lifelong learning.
An international expert panel visited NBS to examine its MBA, Executive MBA and new Global Executive MBA programmes, along with its MSc Finance course as an example of the School’s Masters offer.
The assessors particularly noted the significant experience of the NBS faculty and its supportive working environment, as well as the School’s achievement of ‘consistently exceeding student expectations in the delivery of a very positive student experience’.
The report also highlighted the quality of NBS’ new multimillion-pound Postgraduate Centre, which was purposely designed to accommodate its collaborative teaching style and includes a hub for MBA alumni.
Executive Dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: “Achieving triple crown accreditation is the highest benchmark of international excellence for business schools. It is not only further worldwide recognition for NBS as an institution, but also for our graduates who will be considered top talent by employers.
“It also demonstrates the commitment of everyone within NBS to delivering innovative, personalised and effective leadership education to our students, so they become globally responsible citizens who can make a lasting and positive impact on the world.”
Water efficiency funding launched for Midlands businesses
Businesses invited to have their say in new Gedling Business Support Network
Businesses local to Gedling or trading in and around Gedling are to be offered new support following the establishment of the new Gedling Business Support Network.
The new Network will be launched on Friday, 10 May at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton. It is being funded by Gedling Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.
Its aim is to enable local businesses to work together, learn new skills and stay up to date on relevant local, regional and national support.
As well as presentations from the Council and its partners on the fully funded business advice, training and consultancy on offer, the launch event will be highly interactive. Businesses will be invited to participate in practical exercises to share their challenges and to tell the stakeholders present exactly where they need the new Network to help.
Gedling Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy Jenny Hollingsworth said: “I really look forward to meeting and hearing from local businesses and hope many, from in and around Gedling, are able to attend. “It is of particular relevance to businesses who want to grow Gedling’s reputation as a place to do business and explore opportunities to work with other local businesses.” East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford said: “We’ve put together a series of interactive exercises to really drill down to what’s keeping Gedling businesses awake at night and how the Chamber and Council can address those issues, both through the Network and through support delivered through the Gedling Accelerator project and our routes into national programmes.”Nottingham MedTech company raises £9.2m
Locate Bio, the Nottingham-based MedTech company, has successfully completed an oversubscribed £9.2 million funding round from both new investors and existing investors, Mercia Ventures and BGF. The proceeds will fund a clinical study of LDGraft, a bone graft substitute for spinal fusion.
This funding and the clinical trial known as RESTORE (A Randomized Study of LDGraft in Single Level Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to relieve suffering and restore the quality of life for millions of patients suffering from debilitating orthopaedic conditions worldwide.
Locate Bio combines decades of research in advanced drug delivery systems and utilises a proprietary protein encapsulation method to deliver a powerful therapeutic protein called rhBMP-2. This is combined with an osteoconductive scaffold in LDGraft, which received a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) breakthrough device designation in 2023.
CEO John von Benecke said: “This oversubscribed funding round underscores the significant investor confidence in the company’s vision and the potential of LDGraft to become the most relied-on bone graft substitute globally.”
“With the rapidly ageing global population, there is an urgent need for products that address chronic, progressive, and debilitating back pain,” added von Benecke. “With a design inspired by nature for a more biomimetic approach to the release of rhBMP-2, we are incredibly excited about the potential of LDGraft. The RESTORE clinical trial is an important step towards realising that ambition.”
Jonathan Earl, investor at BGF, said: “Locate Bio has demonstrated significant progress in its drive towards developing innovative solutions that address a wide range of musculoskeletal needs. Their approach represents a significant breakthrough in this field and we look forward to providing continued support for the business as it moves through clinical trials and towards regulatory approval.”
Alex Gwyther, investor at Mercia Ventures, said: “We have long believed in Locate Bio’s mission to develop next generation orthobiologics that can transform patients’ lives. We are pleased to see both the progress in the technology and the world-class team that the company has brought together.”
Frasers Group to commence new share buyback programme
Shirebrook-based Frasers Group is set to commence a new share buyback programme with Jefferies International Limited.
The aggregate purchase price of all shares acquired will be no greater than £80m.
The maximum number of shares that may be purchased will be 10,000,000 ordinary shares.
The purpose of the programme is to reduce the share capital of the company.
The shares repurchased by the company will be held in treasury pending cancellation or re-issue.
Yorkshire law firm acquired by Castle Donnington counterpart
Leicestershire businesses offered Government funded training
Small and medium-sized businesses in Leicestershire are being offered a time-limited opportunity to take one of the remaining places in a fully funded government training scheme for business owners.
Help to Grow: Management is a government scheme delivered via Small Business Charter accredited business schools. The programme is designed to empower businesses to innovate, increase profits, develop staff and improve leadership and management skills.
Limited places are available for the next intake delivered by De Montfort University’s Leicester Castle Business School (LCBS), which will take place over 13 weeks, beginning with an introductory session on June 11th.
The course is delivered by expert tutors with real world business expertise and is designed to fit in alongside full-time work. The next programme will be delivered entirely online to offer ultimate convenience for time-pressed business owners located throughout the whole of Leicestershire.
The programme, worth £7,500, is 90% funded by the government and 10% through a bursary from Leicester Castle Business School, which has been successfully delivering Help to Grow: Management since 2020.
In addition to the weekly 2-hour online sessions, creating a bespoke Growth Action Plan in partnership with a one-to-one mentor is an important aspect of the programme.
Weekly peer-to-peer support sessions also offer a valuable opportunity for business leaders in various sectors and at different stages to support each other through sharing experiences and offering support.
Areas covered in the programme include developing a growth plan, leading innovation in business, team management and motivation, building resilience as a leader, creating new opportunities and fostering a culture of responsible business practice.
“We’re delighted to be offering places for our 11th Help to Grow: Management course, which due to demand will be immediately followed by our 12th intake on September 2nd,” says LCBS’s Help to Grow: Management programme director, Dr Danny Buckley.
“Over the past four years we’ve helped over 200 fantastic SMEs from our area develop the skills they need to take their business to the next level. We look forward to more of the same on our upcoming course, which will be an option for more business owners than ever thanks to being delivered fully online with no valuable time taken up by commuting.
“As always, places are filling up fast, so we would urge anyone interested to act now to secure their place.”
This fully funded opportunity to grow and scale up their business is open to any professional with decision-making responsibilities and at least one direct report in a UK-based business which has been established for at least a year and employs between 5 and 249 staff.
2023 participant Megan Murray, partner in Market Harborough-based Duncan Murray wines, says: “The main benefit is having a chance to work on the business rather than in the business. We found the introduction to new models, frameworks and ways of thinking very beneficial.
“In particular, the business planning model was a very strategic tool to help us really sit back and take the time to evaluate every aspect of the business. It was a great opportunity to do some proper planning which can be difficult amidst the day-to-day running of a business.”
Across the UK, 90% of participants reported improved leadership and management of their organisation after six months, with 80% stating employee engagement had improved in the same period after attending Help to Grow: Management.
On completion of the course, members have access to various alumni events, and many continue to benefit from the valuable peer network they establish as a member of the programme.
“We found the peer support really valuable,” adds Megan Murray. “Even though we were quite a disparate group, it was so helpful to get together with people who are all facing the same kinds of challenges. There really is a ‘greater than the sum of your parts’ kind of thing that comes out of this sort of collaboration.”