Top appointment for Northumbria academic

5th June 2020

Dr Matthew Sutherland from Northumbria University, Newcastle, has been appointed to the Management Board of the influential Small Business Charter.

Part of the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), the Small Business Charter brings leading Business Schools and SME communities across the UK together. Newcastle Business School at Northumbria became the first university in the North East to be granted the Small Business Charter Award in 2015. And Dr Sutherland’s appointment is further recognition of Northumbria’s active participation in supporting start-ups, entrepreneurial students and small businesses. It also reinforces the University’s reputation as a leading centre for entrepreneurial learning and research.

Dr Sutherland has been working closely with the Small Business Charter since 2017 and believes his appointment will open up valuable networking opportunities for Northumbria and students. He added: “I am thrilled to be joining the Management Board. The Small Business Charter provides vital work with SMEs across the UK. It has an excellent track record in supporting enterprise and delivering initiatives to improve business performance”

Professor John Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria, said: “The Small Business Charter is an influential and important organisation which helps thousands of small businesses across the UK. It’s role will become even more crucial as we respond to Covid-19 and start the process of economic recovery, so to have one of our academics represented on the Board is significant and I congratulate Dr Sutherland on his appointment. We are known globally for our entrepreneurial learning and the support we provide for our enterprise-focused students. This latest news only enhances our standing.”

University business schools holding The Small Business Charter awards have already directly helped more than 8000 small businesses – providing a range of support including on-site incubators with dedicated space for students and small businesses to start- up and grow.

For information on how Northumbria can help your business respond to the COVID-19 crisis please visit our Business Services page