UK’s first Master's in Small Business Development

Teesside Business School at the Middlesbrough-based University of Teesside is now offering a Masters degree (MSc) course in Small Business Development, starting in September 2003. This is the first Masters-level course to be developed specifically for Small Business Advisors, Consultants and SME Market Managers.

Ted Fuller, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Foresight at Teesside Business School will direct the programme. Professor Fuller is a prominent figure in the UK’s business community, having developed his own enterprises before embarking on a prolific academic career.

Having developed his own enterprises in the private sector and in his long career at Durham Business School, Ted knows that small businesses value practical advice and assistance. "That is why the team of academics have been working closely with small business owners, professional business services and business support organisations to produce suitable qualifications", he said, "People who help small enterprises to develop have to be well networked and very commercially minded. They also must be able to act quickly on opportunities and be completely trustworthy."

Eric Lloyd, the owner of a well-established and fast growing business furniture manufacturing company in the North East has been closely associated with the design of the course. He has experienced the good and bad aspects of business advisers and consultants. "What I want from consultants is that they have strong networks and real skills that can help me succeed", said Eric. "They have to get on the ball pretty quick with my business." He added, "I also like to make sure business schools are doing the right things for business".

The shift in business support from a public service to a quality commercial activity underlies the interest that Business Link Tees Valley Chief Executive Malcolm Taylor has in the programme. He said "The way our business advisers and account managers build up trusted relationships with their local customers is by introducing really good specialists and helping clients manage development projects. We cannot be on the outside looking in, but partners in the success of our clients. I think that developing advisers who understand the pressures on small enterprises and can deliver projects is a real winner."

The programme has already had significant interest from all parts of the UK; from banks, accountants, private business consultants and marketing departments of corporate businesses, and has received recognition from the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) the UK lead body, and the Institute of Business Advisers.

Teesside Business School is restricting numbers to enable consultants from smaller firms to work alongside corporate professionals. Professor Fuller added: "We use a workshop approach to enable participants to learn and develop best practice approaches. We will have lots of owner managers involved and some of the country's best practitioners. We want to make a real difference to the careers of the business developers and, through them, to the success of their clients. We plan to use a workshop approach to enable participants to learn and develop best practice approaches,” explained Professor Fuller. “We will have lots of owner managers involved as well as some of the UK’s best practitioners. We want to make a real difference to the careers of the business developers and, through them, to the success of their clients.”

The course will be run for about 20 participants over two years, 18 months of which will be spent in regular three-day intensive workshops, with the balance devoted to the completion of an individual research project. Fees have been set at £4450 per year.

For an application form contact Lisa Gollogly at Teesside Business School, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, tel. 01642 342885 or email L.Gollogly@tees.ac.uk

For more details about the programme, contact Professor Fuller on 01642 342905, e-mail ted.fuller@tees.ac.uk

---