Nottingham Business School’s commitment to supporting businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving economic growth has been recognised with reaccreditation from the Small Business Charter (SBC) for the maximum five-year period.
The accreditation examined 30 Small Business Charter dimensions and in a rare and prestigious achievement, Nottingham Business School (NBS) achieved outstanding performance across all elements.
NBS is triple crown accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA – globally recognised hallmarks of excellence and quality for business education. It actively engages industry professionals and stakeholders in the design and delivery of its courses, as well as developing research that influences business, management, and public policy.
The award from SBC recognises NBS impact across three key pillars: small business growth, stakeholder engagement, and student enterprise. This includes its comprehensive and integrated approach to business support through a range of programmes and initiatives which directly benefit SMEs and entrepreneurs.
NBS’s strong commitment to knowledge exchange and enterprise has led to the successful delivery of over £10 million in funded projects, supporting more than 1,500 SMEs via innovation partnerships, leadership programmes, and knowledge transfer initiatives.
Programmes included the Big House which became a standout initiative for creative and digital enterprises, supporting over 2,700 SMEs and 500 entrepreneurs, helping them secure more than £1.5 million in external funding, from 2018-2023.
This has led to NBS becoming a key partner in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport funded CreateGrowth N2 programme that supports creative and digital businesses across Nottinghamshire and is already creating valuable impacts in terms of innovation and funding for growth.
NBS also delivers the government-backed Help to Grow: Management, programme – now on its 20th cohort – which provides executive development, peer learning, and mentoring to SME leaders, enhancing their strategic and operational capabilities.
Businesses working with NBS have access to dedicated facilities and innovation spaces, including the newly renovated Belgrave Postgraduate Centre and the Dryden Enterprise Centre which provide cutting-edge co-working spaces, specialist accelerator programmes, and dedicated business growth support. These hubs have supported more than 100 entrepreneurs from 35 organisations with business engagement and revenue growth.
An aspect of NBS that impressed the accreditation panel was its continual engagement with organisations to provide students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Thousands of NBS students interact with small businesses each year thanks to initiatives such as NBS Discover, NBS Bright, and Postgraduate Consultancy Projects.
Its vibrant alumni and mentoring networks were also noted as an area of excellence – with an Alumni Fellowship Scheme and an Entrepreneurs Club connecting graduates and business leaders with current students, offering mentoring, role modelling, and networking opportunities that inspire new ventures and professional growth.
Executive Dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: “This prestigious five-year accreditation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and business partners.
“It recognises NBS’s dynamic role in driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership across both academia and industry, and reflects our deep commitment to supporting SMEs, shaping policy, and delivering impactful education and research that benefits our region and beyond.”
Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, added: “Nottingham Business School continues to set a high standard in its commitment to small businesses and regional growth.
“This reaccreditation is a testament to the school’s consistent drive for excellence, using the Small Business Charter framework not only as recognition, but as a catalyst for continuous improvement. We are delighted to see their impact recognised once again.”
