Enterprise at Leeds showcased in Chartered Association of Business Schools report

The Chartered Association of Business Schools recently published a national report - 'Business schools: delivering value to local and regional economies' - which highlights the far reaching contributions business schools make to local and regional economies.

As part of this report Leeds University Business School was featured for its commitment to, and leadership in, student enterprise.

The case study focuses on the opportunities available to students. Dr Sarah Underwood, Director for the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies (CEES), commented:

The opportunities in the curriculum for enterprise education for any student, from every school are growing. In 2014/15 over 1,000 students undertook enterprise electives, half of which were from outside the business school. LUBS launched the popular MSc Enterprise, ‘with Enterprise’ recruiting undergraduate programmes and fully-funded ‘Year in Enterprise’ placements.

Extra-curricular support provided by the School has inspired a 135-strong Enterprise Society and ENACTUS team and the University’s start-up service, Spark, saw a 40% increase in uptake in the last 12 months. Spark services such as workshops, mentoring and advice services have to date created 33 businesses, 41 new jobs and 37 businesses filling the ‘Intechnology Enterprise Incubator’.

The University is a renowned centre of excellence for entrepreneurial support, thanks to the cross faculty networks of staff and external enterprise ambassadors bringing critical industry insight. This has resulted in the University being recognised by three national awards in 2016. These include the ‘Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship’ at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards and the Times Higher Education ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ award.

The report also mentions the Small Business Charter (SBS) award, of which Leeds is one of only 33 business schools in the country to hold. The SBC is awarded after a rigorous assessment process validating a school’s business engagement and business support.

Read the full report here
Find out more about MSc Enterprise here