Leeds Beckett celebrates reaccreditation of prestigious Small Business Charter Award

Awarded by the Charter Association of Business Schools and the Small Business Charter, the news confirms Leeds Beckett’s place among a select group of business schools across the UK that demonstrate excellence in supporting SMEs and fostering innovation through partnerships. 

Professor George Lodorfos, Dean of Leeds Business School, said: “From our very first accreditation, the Small Business Charter has been an incredible catalyst for Leeds Beckett, shaping our direction and deepening our commitment to our shared mission to support SMEs, champion entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, and drive real impact for our students, staff, businesses and communities. The guidance of the SBC panels and our close relationship with CABS have been instrumental in our journey and success.”

First awarded the Charter in 2016, Leeds Beckett has worked closely with numerous small and medium businesses through initiatives such as the Help to Grow: Management programme, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) and Leeds Business School’s Leadership Centre. 

One example is the university’s collaboration with Elland-based Colchester Machine Tool Solutions. Through a KTP, the company gained strategic leadership support to drive internal culture change and succession planning. 

Jonathan Wright, Managing Director at Colchester Machine Tool Solutions said: "Partnering with Leeds Beckett University Business School on our management KTP project has been a transformative experience for us. The project not only helped us develop a structured succession planning strategy but also initiated a meaningful cultural shift across our organisation. Through the collaboration, we’ve gained valuable insight into leadership development and long-term workforce planning, which are now firmly embedded into our business strategy."

Aquatrust, a water hygiene company based in Cleckheaton, has also seen significant business impact through its work with the university. 

Paul Kenny, Managing Director at Aquatrust, said: “The Help to Grow: Management programme at Leeds Beckett University really helped strengthen my leadership skills and gave me a broader view of how we could grow Aquatrust. That’s where I came across the Knowledge Transfer Partnership and saw the opportunity to innovate from within. With Leeds Beckett’s support, we’ve developed a remote monitoring solution specifically for the water hygiene industry, something we couldn’t find on the market. It’s already improving how we work and helping us meet our sustainability goals. The impact has been huge so far, and we’re looking forward to continuing the partnership.”

The reaccreditation will remain in place for the next five years, enabling Leeds Beckett to build on its achievements, strengthen its links with business and further enhance its role as a regional hub for SME support and innovation.

Find out more about Leeds Business School.