Queen’s Business School offers a wide range of opportunities for student engagement with local SMEs throughout their courses, and through a range of consultancy projects and placements. In 2020, the school supported more than 1000 student placements, with work experience now offered across five programmes.

The school’s offering to local SMEs is extensive; with the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute offering executive education for small businesses to boost growth and enhance leadership. Most recently, the school have expanded their offering in digital and innovation programmes, providing greater opportunity for the upskilling and reskilling of professionals for the changing work environment.

Furthermore, Queen’s Business School delivers innovation to Northern Irish businesses through research, knowledge transfer partnerships and student consultancy projects, with small businesses being offered the opportunity to access the student talent pool, to bring fresh insights on business management issues.

Queen’s Business School provides a vast range of curricular and extra-curricular activities for both students and SMEs alike, with a varied programme of business briefings, webinars, innovation masterclasses, development guidance for business leaders. In 2021, over 5000 business professionals attended events hosted by the school.

The Small Business Charter Award is a national accreditation, assessed by small business leaders, to recognise business schools which demonstrate excellence in supporting small businesses, student enterprise, and the local economy. Queen’s Business School will hold the award for three years. There are now 54 business schools that hold the SBC Award in the UK and Ireland.

Patrick McCole – Interim Head of Queen’s Business School said:

‘We are hugely excited and proud to have been awarded the Small Business Charter. Queen’s Business School has a vital role to play in the transformation of Northern Ireland towards a more prosperous outward-looking society and in reshaping the local economy. This is embedded in our school’s mission to positively transform business and society, and underpins strategic efforts to equip SMEs to grow, innovate, and lead. We look forward to furthering our commitment to local businesses with this accreditation, and hope our upcoming school expansion will further accelerate our collaboration with SMEs’

Anne Kiem OBE, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter, and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools said:

“We’d like to congratulate Queen’s Business School on their Small Business Charter Award, given in recognition of their support for student entrepreneurship, small business and their local economy. We look forward to welcoming the school to our network of accredited schools delivering and supporting their continued impact on Northern Ireland’s economy.”