Bournemouth University Business School has become the latest signatory to the Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, joining organisations and universities across the UK in a collective effort to foster a more inclusive enterprise ecosystem.
The Charter acknowledges that the current UK enterprise ecosystem falls short in providing fair and productive access to entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly for underrepresented social groups. These groups include women, ethnic minorities, young people, migrants, and individuals with disabilities, all of whom face unique barriers to entrepreneurship.
The Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, developed by Dr. Lorna Treanor, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Nottingham University Business School, aims to enable equitable access to entrepreneurship and improve outcomes for all individuals, irrespective of their personal characteristics or backgrounds. This is achieved by fostering an inclusive ecosystem that incorporates diverse recruitment, procurement, and service delivery practices, alongside tailored business support and enterprise education.
By becoming a signatory, Bournemouth University Business School commits to addressing barriers to entrepreneurship through actions across five key areas:
- Promoting diverse role models across the enterprise ecosystem
- Delivering inclusive enterprise support
- Enabling lifelong learning of entrepreneurship education
- Ensuring equal access to enterprise finance
- Implementing measurable targets for inclusive enterprise.
Professor Lois Farquharson, Executive Dean of Bournemouth University Business School, stated:
"Signing the Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship reflects our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. We aim to foster a fairer, more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and contribute to meaningful change."
As part of this commitment, the Business School has launched the Bournemouth University Business School SME and Inclusion HUB programme. This initiative offers free support to SME leaders from minority communities who face challenges in accessing business improvement opportunities. Key initiatives of the programme include the annual summer masterclasses, which provide practical guidance to help businesses enhance their efficiency. This initiative reflects Bournemouth University's mission to inspire learning, advance knowledge, and enrich society.
Find out about our Undergraduate and Postgraduate Business & Management courses and our latest course - MSc Sport Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship.
