'Fantastic' relationship between university and Portsmouth businesses recognised with award

The University of Portsmouth Business School has retained its Small Business Charter Award in recognition of its work to support students, small businesses and the local economy.

Portsmouth Business School has held the Small Business Charter (SBC) accreditation status since 2015 and is one of only 33 Business Schools in the UK and Ireland.

Portsmouth is one of only four business schools to have successfully completed their reassessment through the SBC’s virtual assessment process. It will now hold the SBC award for five years.

Professor Jeremy Howells, executive dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, said: ‘This award recognises the well-established and beneficial collaboration between the Business School and the local business community.

‘Our unique position as a large institution with expertise in research, knowledge services and education, means we are well placed to champion and provide ongoing support for small businesses and start-ups.

‘This will be particularly important to help drive sustained economic growth in our region as we respond to the economic impact of Covid-19.’

The assessors were impressed by the range of opportunities to stimulate and support student engagement with the Small and Medium Enterprise community such as placements and consultancy projects offered through the business and law clinics.

Anne Kiem OBE, executive director of the Small Business Charter and chief executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: ‘Having business schools like these on the doorstep of local businesses is fantastic for our recovery, regionally and nationally.’

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Director of business development at the University of Portsmouth, Peter Hooley, said: ‘At Portsmouth we take an outside-in approach to business problems, utilising our students to help identify, advise on and solve genuine business problems.

‘This award recognises the very real work being undertaken by university researchers, entrepreneurs, students and staff to help grow the substantial contribution SMEs make to UK PLC.’

University small business manager, Pat Smith said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled that Portsmouth Business School has achieved this award.

‘For the past five years, I have been actively engaged with our local small businesses and key stakeholders, some of whom were kind enough to speak with the assessors.

‘Forging such relationships directly benefits our students and colleagues.’

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