The University of Derby’s Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter in recognition of its high standard of support for SMEs and the local economy.

The award from Chartered Association of Business Schools is also recognition of the work Derby Business School does in developing entrepreneurial skills in students.

The Small Business Charter (SBC) award is a national kitemark awarded by small businesses to recognise business schools which demonstrate excellence in supporting student enterprise, small businesses and the local economy. There are 34 business schools across the UK that hold the award.

Among the key features which earned Derby Business School its accreditation was its offer of internships and placements as part of its career and employability service.

The Derby Internship Programme, funded by the ERDF, engaged more than 1,400 students between 2016-2019, with over half of the small businesses involved giving students a part time or full-time role after the internship.

The association noted Derby’s superb teaching facilities and its community business links. Banks Mill innovation and digital studios are fully occupied by students, graduates and creative entrepreneurs, while the business school’s base at the University’s Kedleston Road site provides “a visual presence at the heart of the city”.

The University’s Careers and Employability Service was hailed as an “excellent hub of activity” which creates a fantastic environment for networking opportunities for both students and SMEs.

Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said: “The confirmation of our Small Business Charter accreditation is fantastic news. There are more than 25,000 small businesses in Derby and Derbyshire, which is 88 per cent of all businesses in the city and county.”

“To show that our business school, with the full support of the whole University, has Small Business Charter status sends a clear message to the SME community that we are here to support them in their growth, to promote their activity as a vital part of our local and national economy, and to drive their sustainability. We recognise that at the heart of our University we have a body of students that are their future talent.”

Anne Kiem, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said: “We congratulate Derby Business School on achieving the Small Business Charter award. Their commitment to offering a diversity of services to local businesses is impressive, and their team does excellent work to bring together business, enterprising students and other stakeholders across the East Midlands region. Their work in supporting student employability locally further speaks to this business-orientated mindset.”

The business school’s strong connections with stakeholders in Derby, have resulted in high quality events and workshops in the local area, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship in the region, some of which include FSB, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), CBI, Princess Trust, D2N2 LEP, Erewash Partnership, and Destination Chesterfield.

Click here to find out more about the University of Derby’s Chesterfield Campus. 

The region’s leading accountancy firm, BHP, has announced a record month after winning 10 new clients worth nearly £500,000 in total.

The client wins, which include prestigious companies from the timber and flooring markets as well as the professional services and charitable sectors, are a reflection of the firm’s recent national recognition for the quality of its audit work.

Joint Managing Partner, Lisa Leighton, said: “We have seen a solid increase in demand for our services across the year but significantly in this last month.

“While we’ve been up against national firms, new clients have fed back that BHP’s approach and ethos have shone through and we’re particularly pleased to note a couple of private equity backed companies highlighting our rigorous audit approach as a decisive factor.”

In November 2019, BHP – which has offices in Sheffield, Cleckheaton, Leeds, Chesterfield, and York – scooped Audit Team of the Year at the British Accountancy Awards (below).

The award – run in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) – recognises BHP’s market-leading use of data analytics in audit.

Lisa explains: “We continue to push forward with initiatives to further add value in our audits and lead with technology.

“It’s important to us that we don’t grow for growth’s sake and we continue to devote time to building those relationships we’ve already got – this has always been fundamental at BHP.

“If you focus on what clients need and continue to provide a great service then this will show through.”

In 2019, BHP was recognised by the Sunday Times in their 100 Best Companies to Work For list – now in its 19th year, the hard-fought and nationally-celebrated list recognises the very best in employee engagement around the country.

BHP was also awarded Mid-Tier Firm of the Year and Best Employer of the Year at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, while its Professional Services team were recognised by the Derbyshire Times Business Awards.

With more than 300 staff, over the last 10 years BHP has increased turnover from £8m to over £22m.

Click here to find out more about BHP.

In 2019, BHP scooped Audit Team of the Year at the British Accountancy Awards.