University expertise helps region's businesses to thrive

Universities are not necessarily the first place you’d think of approaching for help with growing your business. But you could be missing out on incredible opportunities to take your organisation’s success to the next level.

Experts at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston have provided tailored support to hundreds of local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in recent years. Businesses have benefited from access to state-of-the-art facilities (such as a £35m Engineering Innovation Centre), collaborating with leading research staff, and engaging with the brightest student and graduate talent.

We are proud to be a catalyst for economic growth, providing a vast range of business support under the leadership of our business school, the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise. Our Centre for SME and Enterprise Development (CSME) has been a huge success story, providing local business leaders with opportunities to connect, collaborate and share best practice. Its thriving 1,400-strong membership is growing all the time, with members benefitting from tailored business advice, development events and networking opportunities all year round.

The CSME epitomises our commitment to being an outstanding, sector-leading entrepreneurial institution which seeks to foster a more productive and innovative SME sector in Lancashire. The Chartered Association of Business Schools recently commended our work as “unique” and “groundbreaking.” We’ve inspired leaders across the North West to experiment with pioneering new ideas, adopt new technologies and enhance their efficiency and competitiveness. After tapping into our expertise, leaders have taken bold steps to future-proof their organisations and ready themselves for the incredible opportunities that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring.

In 2020-21 The University of Central Lancashire supported some 529 SMEs through fully funded initiatives, adding £15m Gross Value Added (GVA) and helping create 116 jobs. This was made possible thanks to funding totalling £31.2m to support Lancashire-based SMEs. We currently have some 14 projects ongoing, focusing on everything from upskilling leaders to new product design, becoming investment ready, and reducing carbon and energy usage. In addition, our Propeller Hub which is a co-working space at the centre, offers mentoring and incubation space for start-up businesses, with a hot desk on campus costing just £40 per month.

Sue Smith, Professor of Innovation and Enterprise, says: “SMEs are the backbone of our country’s economy and universities like ourselves have much to offer across all sectors. Adding demonstrable value to the region’s SMEs and supporting student enterprise are key priorities that we are committed to as a civic university and anchor institution.”

Championing student enterprise is another of our strengths. Last year we were named as the top university in the north of England for helping students and graduates set up and run their own successful companies. Through our Propeller service we’ve given formal enterprise support to more than 850 new businesses, including sole traders, over the last six years (University Start-up League Table, Tide).

Professor Chris Pyke, Executive Dean of the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise, says: “Enterprise runs throughout everything we do. Helping the entrepreneurs of tomorrow is part of our legacy. To be top in the north really shows our commitment to our students and their futures.”

Meanwhile, our business and management research has been ranked amongst the UK’s top 20 per cent for world-leading impact in the recently published Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) results. This includes research undertaken at the centre alongside seven other northern universities to develop a set of hybrid working principles for SMEs.

They were created alongside the NP11 growth hubs, a voice for regional businesses which brings together the 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across the north of England. Other projects have seen our expert researchers making submissions to parliamentary select committees and even advising the United Nations.

To find out more about how your business could benefit from the Centre for SME and Enterprise Development or to join free, visit www.uclan.ac.uk/sme. You can find out more about the University of Central Lancashire’s support for businesses by emailing [email protected] or telephone 01772 895500.

Enjoyed this? Read more from University of Central Lancashire

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin