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BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL (BCBS): IN A SNAPSHOT...

ACCA PLATINUM STATUS SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF ACCOUNTANCY COURSES

BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR REVEALS BRITAIN'S MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES

SKY IS THE LIMIT SAYS TV CHIEF EXECUTIVE

POSTGRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

CHAMPION OF PRACTICE BASED MANAGEMENT EDUCATION JOINS THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

UNIVERSITY TOASTS APPOINTMENT OF FORMER M&B DIRECTOR

MOTIVATIONAL TALK BY THE ‘GREATEST LIVING EXPLORER’

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR: MARK PERSARD. A MAN DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS MARK

STUDENT PROFILE... MEET ROLAND RUHUMURIZA

CONTENTS

BCBS UPDATEWinter – Spring 2011

ACCA PLATINUM STATUS SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF ACCOUNTANCY COURSESIn January, Birmingham City Business School was granted Platinum status by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) for the 2011-2012 academic year. This is the fourth consecutive year the School have received this prestigious level of accreditation.

Platinum is the highest level of approval granted by the ACCA. To meet this criteria, the School has met a range of challenging performance targets including the level of ACCA course management and delivery, and ACCA's Platinum pass rate targets.

Reflecting the significance of global business collaboration, Birmingham City Business School welcomes approximately 3,000 students from over 80 countries.

From accountancy to public relations, from professional routes to part-time study, the school offers an outstanding range of innovative programmes providing the academic knowledge and practical skills needed to stand out in an environment which has never been so competitive, nor so important.

Any faculty with credibility, foresight and an innate feel for good business practice will have strong links with its business community. That’s why the school’s remit extends beyond academic courses to offer a range of bespoke training packages, consultancy and cutting edge research to a host of regional and national organisations.

Sound thinking, clear strategies and new ideas for contemporary business success are now pressing issues. The Business School hopes the leadership created will prepare, encourage and inspire the business leaders of tomorrow.

BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL (BCBS): IN A SNAPSHOT...

Birmingham City Business School: Thinking, Evolving, Leading

In December, Management Today and Birmingham City Business School celebrated the latest results of the annual survey to find Britain's Most Admired Companies.

Professor Mike Brown, Professor of Corporate Strategy in Birmingham City Business School, leads the high profile research to identify the corporate reputation of Britain's leading companies. The top 10 companies across multiple business sectors are identified in terms of market capitalisation. Senior executives of each company, together with city analysts, are then invited to offer their perceptions on those other companies within their sector. Few are better prepared to have such an overarching view of their competitor organisations.

“The University is committed to putting its students first and the new postgraduate

suite is an example of this.”

BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR REVEALS BRITAIN'S MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES

SKY IS THE LIMIT SAYS TV CHIEF EXECUTIVE As part of the excellent links with industry created in Birmingham City Business School, the Chief Executive of Sky, Jeremy Darroch, visited during 2010 to talk to students and Birmingham business leaders about what makes a company successful. In his talk, Jeremy explored the meaning of sustainable business and its inextricable link to commercial success. He discussed important factors that need to be considered by businesses if they want to remain successful over the long term and the business benefits of making a wider contribution.

Executive Dean, Professor Chris Prince commented: “The event was a big success; Jeremy knows how to keep an audience's interest and I think many of us listening to him came away with plenty to think about - perhaps to even help us further our own businesses and/or careers.'

Sky Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch during the presentation

The new postgraduate and professional teaching suite

2010's overall winner was Unilever which took the award for the first time despite being in the top six Most Admired Companies on no fewer than nine previous occasions.

Professor Mike Brown commented: "The awards present tremendous benefits, including raising the profile of the University on a national level. We were privileged with the visit of Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive of Sky following their award in 2010, and we look forward to this years Most Admired Companies Annual Lecture"

In October 2010, the Business School officially opened a brand new postgraduate and professional teaching suite. Acting as a hub for those studying full or part-time towards Masters and postgraduate professional courses, the area has been refurbished and developed to allow students from the various courses taught at Birmingham City Business School to meet up and discuss projects and course work. It encourages the sharing of ideas and the close business collaboration that marks the most successful enterprises, and allows part-time students to immerse themselves in a vibrant postgraduate learning community.

Vice-Chancellor Professor David Tidmarsh officially opened the new postgraduate facility. He said “The University is committed to putting its students first and the new postgraduate suite is an example of this.”

POSTGRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

“Many of us listening to him came away with plenty to think about - perhaps to even help us further our own businesses and/or careers.”

Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive ofTesco, Britain's Most Admired Company 2009, presenting to the Business School

Birmingham City Business School welcomed Professor Martin Reynolds during 2010 as the Head of the Centre for Leadership and Management Practice.

Professor Reynolds joined the University from Anglia Ruskin University where he was Pro-Vice Chancellor. Over the past ten years he has been actively involved in developing new and innovative work-based courses for companies at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

He was involved in securing a significant amount of company funding, including a corporate donation of over £5million in 2009 to establish a new research institute for International Management Practice at Anglia Ruskin University.

During 2010, Professor Chris Edger, a former Mitchells & Butlers Executive Director, took on a new role as 'Professor of Practice' to help develop and shape the faculty into a leading practice-based business school.

He was a director for the Casual Dining restaurant company with 2,000 outlets and 22 brands including Browns, All Bar One, Vintage Inns, Harvester, Toby, Miller & Carter, Ember Inns and Sizzling Pub Company. He now works at the University’s Centre for Leadership and Management.

Professor Edger was nominated for the 'HR Impact of the Year' award prior to his joining the University, and his team beat other short-listed candidates such as: Boots, Santander, McDonalds and 3M to the prestigious prize.

Included in the award submission was the impact of training and development schemes at line management and retail staff level which have contributed to higher levels of stability, productivity, service and performance.

Professor Martin Reynolds. Newly appointed Head of the Centre for Management and Leadership Practice

Professor Chris Edger- Professor of Multi-unit Leadership

CHAMPION OF PRACTICE BASED MANAGEMENT EDUCATION JOINS THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

UNIVERSITY TOASTS APPOINTMENT OF FORMER M&B DIRECTOR

The man described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s ‘greatest living explorer’, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, spoke to Business leaders and students in the School during 2010.

He told business leaders and students about the experiences gained whilst undertaking some of the most gruelling challenges imaginable. He described the motivation that led him to attempt these challenges, and the amazing perseverance that enabled him to succeed to the end.

Executive Dean, Professor Chris Prince commented: “Sir Ranulph was presenting to a full-house, and we are very excited to add him to the list of fantastic guest speakers during the year, following presentations by Jeremy Darroch, the Chief Executive of Sky and Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive of Tesco”.

MOTIVATIONAL TALK BY THE ‘GREATEST LIVING EXPLORER’

Sir Ranulph Fiennes addressing the audience

CONTACT BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOLTEL: 0121 331 5200 EMAIL: business.school@bcu.ac.uk WEBSITE: www.bcu.ac.uk/bcbs

Birmingham City Business School graduate Mark Persard was one of Birmingham City University’s Alumni of the Year 2010 winners, in the category of Community Engagement and Leadership.

Mark is Deputy Operations Manager for Ingeus, an organisation that helps disabled people back into work, and during his time there he has helped hundreds of the long-term umemployed to find jobs.

He embarked upon a degree in Management in 2000 with his sights set firmly on a leadership role. When he began working for Ingeus more than five years ago, his passion and talent for his work was quickly spotted, resulting in a promotion soon after his appointment.

Mark’s focus on helping others is not limited to his clients. He has also helped colleagues to gain management roles and even helped devise a training programme based on what he learnt at Birmingham City Business School.

“I am passionate about developing staff. I helped four people into management roles and they now have their own offices. It’s very rewarding.”

Mark has now embarked on a Masters degree, which he juggles alongside work and his family commitments. In the future, he hopes to continue his successes and aspires to a senior management role.

“I was very humbled and honoured to be nominated for the award. Reflecting on the difference I have made to people is very motivating. I want to help people for the rest of my life and I’m fortunate to work for an organisation that does that.”

Alumni of the year 2010: Business School graduate Mark Persard

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR: MARK PERSARD. A MAN DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS MARK

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, Birmingham City University cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the corporate views of Birmingham City University.

• Graduate of the BA (Hons) Business and Management course• Currently studying MSc Management and International Business• Founding member of the Birmingham City University Entrepreneurship Society

Having completed his undergraduate studies in Business and Management with Birmingham City Business School, Roland Ruhumuriza widened his interests in the workings of business through higher level study and the establishment of Birmingham City University’s first Entrepreneurship Society.

His undergraduate course included a one-year work placement as a Research Assistant at TNT Express. This exposure to the daily operations and practical challenges of a modern business led him to examine the opportunities for the business-minded individual in today’s market place.

Roland founded the Entrepreneurship Society which started in October 2010. It aims to help students network and engage with successful entrepreneurs, and get professional guidance on starting and running a successful business.

“As long as I have studied at Birmingham City Business School, I’ve always had various business ideas and a real hunger to start my own business. I realised there were many more people at the university interested to learn more about running their own business. So I started the society to gather like-minded people together to share ideas.

“Our objectives include running various practical workshops for generating business ideas, inviting successful entrepreneurs and business people to speak to the group and develop a network between the society and businesses in the Midlands.”

Roland noticed that increased competition in the jobs market meant that many people are looking into the possibility of becoming self-employed or improving the way they work, through starting their own business or becoming freelance. Also, with

established businesses keen to cut their overheads by outsourcing their work rather than employing and bring work in-house, there’s a growing need for self-employed individuals.

“I believe entrepreneurship is not just about starting businesses, it’s a way of thinking and a way of working. Employers worldwide are interested in graduates with entrepreneurial mindsets, who can benefit their employer’s business. Entrepreneurs should be innovative, creative, strategic and pragmatic, but these qualities should not be restricted to just those who aim to start their own enterprise.”

STUDENT PROFILE... MEET ROLAND RUHUMURIZA