Academics and Enterprise Fellows of the University of Strathclyde. Business School ... for enterprise and engagement at
GROWING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS. The role of business schools and professional bodies.
CASE STUDY
STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS SCHOOL CLINICS: CONSULTANCY IN KIND FOR SMALL AND NEW BUSINESSES Small and new businesses from commercial and third sectors can benefit from a unique student consultancy project with third year business school students. Business Clinics are designed for small and new businesses to benefit from consultancy solutions such as market research and actionable tools that will help them reach their growth targets. There is no cost for this programme. Academics and Enterprise Fellows of the University of Strathclyde Business School mentor multi-disciplinary teams of third year students to diagnose individual business issues and design action plans. In 2014/15, more than 100 students worked with 23 organisations supported by Jobs and Business Glasgow. Much of the work took on practical elements such as attending trade fairs on behalf of the companies or redesigning websites. After two semesters of intense collaborative work, each team produced a comprehensive report with a detailed strategy and recommendations. There was very positive feedback from the companies and the Business Clinics will continue in the next academic year in a much expanded format. “It’s been enormously successful,” says Professor Eleanor Shaw, Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vice Dean with responsibility for enterprise and engagement at Strathclyde Business School. “We started last year with three companies, this year we had 23 companies and next year I think we’re going to double or triple that number. It’s just been a fabulous programme.” For more information on Growing Your Small Business visit www.managers.org.uk/growingsmes or join the conversation #GrowingSMEs
