Tag Archives: Business School

Business, Education, Education News, News

Porto Business School awarded 5-year AMBA re-accreditation and becomes the first-ever Portuguese business school to obtain international BGA accreditation

Porto Business School has officially received a 5-year AMBA (Association of MBAs) re-accreditation and the Business Graduates Association (BGA) accreditation, which are two of the world’s leading authorities on business education.

This confirms Porto Business School’s position as a nationally and internationally recognized higher education institution, and part of an elite group of institutions whose MBAs hold international accreditations from AMBA, AACSB and EFMD.

Just 300 of the world’s 16,000 business schools, including Porto Business School, are AMBA accredited, equivalent to two percent. This re-accreditation recognizes Porto Business School’s position as a world-leading higher education institution, which has received the highest standard of achievement in postgraduate business education.

Porto Business School’s joint accreditation follows a two-day visit in December 2023 by a three-strong team of international business school leaders.

Porto Business School has also become the first-ever Portuguese business school to obtain a five-year Business Graduate Accreditation (BGA) from the Business Graduates Association (BGA), the sister organization to AMBA.

The BGA accreditation, relaunched in 2019 with a renewed emphasis on impact, is awarded to business schools that can unmistakably showcase a growing influence on their students and communities over a measurable period. BGA’s three key pillars are responsible management, positive impact, and lifelong learning. All accredited business schools must implement BGA’s Continuous Impact Model (CIM), evaluating improvements in impact across various metrics.

Porto Business School offers three types of MBA: the Executive MBA, the International MBA and the Digital MBA. Each of the programmes is tailored for executives and entrepreneurs who want to develop and strengthen their management and leadership skills, equipping them to thrive in the dynamic landscape of today’s business world.

The business school is based in Porto, a city with a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and a growing number of start-ups and incubators. MBA students at Porto Business School will get the opportunity to participate in global immersion experiences and international consulting projects.

José Esteves, Dean of Porto Business School says: “I am delighted to announce our AMBA re-accreditation and our recent five-year BGA accreditation from the Business Graduates Association, and we appreciate the guidance and support provided by AMBA & BGA throughout the journey. This joint accreditation reinforces our dedication to excellence and impact in responsible management education. Porto Business School’s commitment is mirrored in our innovative MBA programs, designed to empower business leaders capable of promoting positive and long-lasting impact in an ever-changing business ecosystem.”

Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of AMBA & BGA, says: “I am delighted to welcome Porto Business School to the BGA network and would like to congratulate the school for being the first Business School in Portugal to become BGA accredited. Porto Business School has demonstrated a commitment to the learning experience of students, especially with the strong ties it has to the corporate world. I would also like to congratulate the School on its AMBA re-accreditation. The school is an important part of the AMBA network, which accredits just the top two percent of business schools globally. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Porto Business School.”

News

Soldier and survivor headlines final ever graduation for leading business programme

AN INSPIRATIONAL soldier and survivor headlined the final ever ION Leadership graduation last night (Thursday).

Welsh Army veteran Simon Weston CBE was among the special guests at Bangor Business School in celebration of the leadership programme’s final cohort.

More than 440 business managers and owners from over 250 organisations have completed the programme since 2016 – including 64 this week – and he was among those to congratulate them on achieving the accolade.

Simon’s story is one of triumph over adversity – having been left with serious burns to 46% of his body following an air attack during the Falklands War in 1982 – and turning negatives into positives to become a success.

Speaking to graduates via video link, he said: “I would like to congratulate you all, it’s an amazing achievement.

“I remember when I first got injured all those years ago, being written off by the man who was supposed to help me find a new way forward; I remember how bereft I felt, then I discovered I had to invest in myself, which is what you have all done.

“I was sitting on my hospital bed and wondering what the future held, I couldn’t see where it might lie but thought that all I could do was try to make a difference, to make a positive contribution to my life and to the lives of those around me.”

He added: “All you have to do is find your relevance in life, and you are on that positive path through education and investment in yourself. Anything is possible, don’t stop, don’t give up, don’t ever let anyone shatter your dreams.

“I wasn’t going to be defined by being blown up, being injured, being disabled, I decided I would be defined by what I did about it.

“Keep striving for the future because it’s yours – it hasn’t been written for you yet.”

On the night, 44 delegates graduated from the ILM Level 3 New Leaders programme, while 20 celebrated completing the ILM Level 5 Leading Growth programme.

In attendance were Professor Bruce Vanstone, Head of Bangor Business School.  Dr Annette Crowley-Luke, Managing Director of Siemens-Healthineers, Dr Rachel Morris, QC Support Manager at Siemens-Healthineers, and Dafydd Hardy, Chair and Trustee at St.David’s Hospice.

A celebratory film was also shown, with messages of congratulations and plaudits from Professor Edmund Burke, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie, and Rhun ap Iorweth, Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Mon.

Nicola Sturrs, Business Development Manager for ION Leadership, thanked everyone for their support of the programme over the last seven years.

“It has been a real privilege to work with so many amazing companies across North West Wales,” said Nicola.

“Those who enrolled on the ION Leadership programme and our other courses understand the importance of upskilling their staff, as well as the benefits that networking and professional development can bring.”

Lorraine Hopkins, Head of Leading Growth Programmes, added: “The impact on the economy, on strategy and in bringing people together has been immeasurable – we can’t thank you enough, and are so proud of those graduating tonight, and the many alumni who have gone on to even bigger and better things after taking part.”

For the latest news and information from Bangor Business School, visit www.bangor.ac.uk/bbs. 

News

Order! John Bercow praise for businesses at prestigious graduation ceremony

BUSINESSPEOPLE have their houses in order after completing a prestigious leadership programme.

Former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow was among the first to pay tribute to 26 delegates graduating from the ION Leadership ILM Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications at Bangor University this week.

Previously MP for Buckingham and now a Professor of Politics and author, he congratulated attendees at the University’s Reichel Hall in his own inimitable style.

“Order! Order! ION Leadership graduates, congratulations on all your hard work in completing the programme,” said Mr Bercow.

“I am proud to hear of what you’ve achieved, and you should be proud to remind yourselves every day of what that combination of skill and application has done for you.”

He added: “For me what makes a good leader is someone who leads by example, because if you want people to work hard you must do so yourself and set the trend.

“Second is communication, which is central to success, particularly clarity and prioritisation, it’s better to achieve three things of value to your business in stellar style than 10 or more things with inadequate time and resources ineffectually.

“Finally, make sure you motivate and inspire to keep the best and improve the rest, build teams, delegate to them an empower them. Be a fighter, never say die, refuse to lose and be that persistent, indefatigable soul who insists on finding a way to get things done.”

The graduation event was sponsored by Bangor Business School – which delivers the Leading Business Growth suite of courses – and Llanberis-based Siemens-Healthineers, which saw two graduates attend on the day and 41 in total over past years.

The company’s HR Consultant Jo Swanston said: “We pride ourselves on providing a development platform for our employees to support them in realising their potential.

“Working in partnership with Bangor University, the ILM Programme has been key in supporting this for many years now and provides an opportunity for our employees to explore their own learning journey whilst the engaging and interactive sessions help them learn how to lead themselves, their teams, and the business more effectively – it’s a win-win.”

Among the other organisations represented were Rhyl City Strategy, North Wales Housing Association, Cofnod, Dylan’s Restaurant, Ropeworks Active Ltd, Wild Horse Brewing Co, Small Woods, Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, Glaslyn Ltd, RWE Renewables, The Royal Victoria Hotel Snowdonia, and Transport for Wales.

Nicola Sturrs, Senior Programme Manager for Leading Business Growth (North West Wales), said: “Thank you to John and all the guests here today for being part of this special occasion.

“We continue to receive positive feedback for this and all our programmes, which is fantastic to hear, especially the impact they have on the day-to-day operations of companies across the region – congratulations again to everyone who has graduated.”

Institute of Leadership and Management Awards were presented by Stephen Jones, Senior Lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School, and the evening also included messages of congratulations from the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke, and Head of Bangor Business School, Bruce Vanstone.

ION Leadership’s final suite of Level 3 Programmes will come to an end in March, with the final Level 5 Programme concluding this June.

For more information, visit: www.ionleadership.co.uk or email: ionleadership@bangor.ac.uk

Education, News, North of England

Durham University Business School achieves five-year EQUIS re-accreditation

Durham University Business School has been awarded a five-year extension to its accreditation from EQUIS – the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.

The re-accreditation places Durham University Business School on a high-calibre shortlist of UK institutions to secure such recognition. There are fewer than 21 UK schools which have received EQUIS’ “Gold Standard” of five years’ accreditation status, and less than 55 institutions in the rest of Europe.

Professor Kieran Fernandes, Interim Executive Dean of Durham University Business School, said;

“The re-accreditation is testimony to our position as a leading international business school, with excellence across our key strategic areas of research, education and student experience.”

The extension of the Business School’s accreditation, which was last awarded in 2017, was confirmed following a comprehensive assessment by EQUIS, which took place in March 2022. The accreditation focuses on evaluating the balance between academic quality and professional relevance, with particular importance placed on the development of students’ managerial and entrepreneurial skills, and the School’s ability to provide opportunities and connections to the business world.

The Peer Review Team recognised that Durham University Business School has upheld the high standards that were acknowledged by EQUIS in 2017, and identified a number of areas where the School’s performance has exceeded the required standards.  These include:

  • The embedding of Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability across its programme portfolio – an objective which sits close to the heart of the School’s ethos,
  • The provision of student support and counselling services,
  • The quality and internationalisation of faculty members,
  • The impact of research, with international research leadership also clearly evident

The Peer Review Team also commended the School’s staff and students for their engagement with the wider community through a wide variety of outreach activities and public service initiatives.

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden at Durham University, said;

“This is a wonderful achievement and a credit to all our colleagues in the Business School. The re-accreditation from EQUIS comes at an exciting time for Durham, where we are looking to enhance our strengths as a leading University renowned for the excellence and impact of its research, the quality of its education and student support, and the richness of its student experience.”

Durham University Business School has a substantial track record in providing internationally recognised degree programmes and MBAs. It has been ranked within the European Top 50 Schools by the Financial Times in 2021, as well as its Online MBA programme being placed 7th in the world by the Financial Times earlier this year. In addition, the School is also ranked 2nd in the UK and 37th in the world in The Economist Which MBA Ranking 2022.

Within the three departments of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Management and Marketing, the School’s research spans a broad range of timely and important topics, such as accountability, economic and sustainable development, cyber security, energy and environmental economics, international business, entrepreneurship, consumer research and supply chains, among others.

It’s commitment to supporting outstanding research was most recently demonstrated in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), a UK-wide assessment of university research.

 

About Durham University Business School

Durham University Business School is part of Durham University, one of the oldest established universities in the UK and is one of an elite group of business schools in the UK to hold triple accreditation. Triple accreditation, or the “Triple Crown”, is only achieved by a select few of the best business schools in Europe. Durham University Business School has the privilege of being accredited by the three most important accreditation organisations AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), AMBA (Association of MBAs) and EFMD/EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System).

The School offers a range of acclaimed programmes and attracts considerable levels of external research funding, enjoying extensive links within both the business and academic worlds. The School is also an internationally renowned research-led institution with a network of over 36,000 alumni from more than 140 countries.

The School is a top 50 European Business School, as confirmed once again by the most recent Financial Times ranking in December 2021. Last month, The Economist Which MBA also ranked Durham 67th globally and 2nd in the UK for the most recent ranking of the flagship Full Time MBA programme. Within this ranking, for the key domain of ‘Personal development and Educational experience’ Durham placed 10th globally and 1st in the UK. For ‘Student quality’ Durham ranked 4th globally and were also 1st in the UK.

For more information on Durham University Business School visit: www.dur.ac.uk/business

 

About EQUIS

EQUIS is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.

EQUIS is run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and its fundamental objective, linked to the mission of the EFMD, is to raise the standard of management education worldwide.

News

Dance TV star Louie Spence and special guests appear at leadership graduation ceremony

DANCER and TV personality Louie Spence was among stars who paid tribute to delegates graduating from a prestigious leadership programme.

Former Wales rugby international Rupert Moon, sports presenter Mike Bushell, celebrity farmer Gareth Wyn Jones and Anglesey politicians Rhun ap Iorweth MS and MP Victoria Crosbie joined him in congratulating the latest cohort to complete the ION Leadership ILM Level 3 and Level 5 qualification.

Louie rose to fame as a choreographer in the hit programme Pineapple Dance Studios and performed in West End musicals including Cats and Miss Saigon before later featuring as a judge on the ITV show, Dancing on Ice.

Appearing via video link, he said: “Hello ION Leadership graduates, I just wanted to say a massive congratulations to you all on graduating from the programme at Bangor University today.

“I’ve heard how awesome you are, and I know how hard you’ve worked, so well done to you all, you’re just fab.

“Turn, pout, blow and a kiss for every single one of you – well done!”

The event was held at the University’s Business School, which delivers the Leading Business Growth suite of courses.

Sponsor was Llanberis-based Siemens-Healthineers, which saw five graduates attend on the day and 30 in total over past years.

The company’s HR Consultant Jo Swanston said: “We pride ourselves on providing a development platform for our employees to support them in realising their potential.

“Working in partnership with Bangor University, the ILM Programme has been key in supporting this for many years now and provides an opportunity for our employees to explore their own learning journey whilst the engaging and interactive sessions help them learn how to lead themselves, their teams, and the business more effectively – it’s a win-win!”

Among the other organisations represented were A Roberts Ltd, Armadillo Events, Centre of Sign, Sight, Sound, Aspire Park and Leisure Homes, GLI UK Gaming, Mareel UK, Quality Internet Solutions, Neat Crown Ltd, and North Wales Housing Association.

Lorraine Hopkins, Manager for the Leading Business Growth programmes at Bangor University Business School, said: “Thank you to Louie and all of the guests here today for being part of this special occasion.

“We continue to receive positive feedback for this and all our programmes, which is fantastic to hear, especially the impact they have on the day-to-day operations of companies across the region.

“Congratulations again to everyone who has graduated, we look forward to running further programmes in the months ahead.”

ION Leadership Programmes are delivered by Bangor University Business School in collaboration with Swansea University and are currently funded up to 70% by the ESF via WEFO.  The very final suite of part-funded Leading Business Growth programmes will take place over the coming months.

The ILM Level 3 New Leaders programme begins September 14, and the ILM Level 5 Leading Growth programme will run from November 30.

For more information and to sign up, visit the website: www.ionleadership.co.uk or email: ionleadership@bangor.ac.uk

NOTES: The ION Leadership programme is accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and delivered by Bangor University and Swansea University with funding from the European Social Fund through Welsh Government. 

News

Pandemic business praise for leadership course ahead of programme finale

AN ACCLAIMED leadership programme proved ‘invaluable’ for business owners and helped them emerge from the pandemic in a stronger position than ever before.

ION Leadership’s ILM Level 5 Leading Growth course was praised by delegates for the positive impact it had on their personal and professional lives.

Among them was Mike Townsend, Managing Director of Quality Internet Solutions in Llandudno.

Celebrating two decades in business, Mike diversified in the past two years, working with different industries and building on the firm’s reputation for SEO and digital marketing services.

“As well as looking at the company and overcoming the challenges of Covid-19, I decided to take some time to reflect on my own academic development,” he said.

“Being part of the Leading Growth programme gave me new ideas, I found the whole course invaluable and have found out a great deal about myself, how I can add value to the way I lead my teams and to listen and learn from other business owners on the course, which for me was one of the highlights.”

Mike added: “We have been successful in partnership with organisations in the online gaming, creative, education and property sectors but have started to attract more clients from other areas.

“I look forward now with a renewed sense of confidence and am already seeing the benefit of putting the things I’ve learned into practice.”

Anna Roberts, a chartered surveyor at A Roberts Ltd on Anglesey and CEO of online marketplace Explorage, was also looking to sharpen her leadership skills on signing up.

“The course exceeded my expectations, compounding the knowledge I already had and reframing it in a way that helps me to get the most of out of my time in a variety of situations,” said Anna.

“ION Leadership enables you to become the best version of yourself in business, to understand the theory behind the action and how to refine your approach to achieve a particular outcome.

“I learnt a lot from the one-to-one coaching and from the interactive group tasks, as well as making some great friends and professional contacts in the process.”

Another to benefit was Connor Watkinson, a Project Manager with Transport for Wales.

Based on Anglesey, Connor enjoyed the course and is focused on further sharpening his leadership skills in the future.

“Continuous development is important to me; I believe we never stop learning and we should never stop learning!” he said.

“I completed the ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management last year and thoroughly enjoyed the course, so I was looking forward to the Level 5. I loved it, especially how interactive and engaging it was, despite being online.

“I would absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone who wants to transform their organisation or themselves.”

Lorraine Hopkins, Manager for the Leading Business Growth programmes at Bangor University Business School, added: “It is heartening to hear such positive feedback about the programme and the effect it had on their professional lives.

“Congratulations and thank you for being a part of what is a growing ION Leadership community – we couldn’t be prouder of you all.”

ION Leadership Programmes are delivered by Bangor University Business School in collaboration with Swansea University and are currently funded up to 70% by the ESF via WEFO.  The very final suite of part-funded Leading Business Growth programmes will take place over the coming months.

The ILM Level 3 New Leaders programme begins September 14, the next ILM Level 5 Leading Growth programme will consist of a Pan-Wales cohort and starts September 6, and the final ILM Level 5 Leading Growth programme will run from November 30.

For more information and to sign up, visit the website: www.ionleadership.co.uk or email: ionleadership@bangor.ac.uk

Visit: A Roberts Ltd  www.arobertsltd.co.uk Quality Internet Solutions www.qualityinternetsolutions.co.uk and Transport for Wales www.tfw.wales for more on the organisations.

News

New programme to support bosses managing a remote workforce in pandemic

AN INNOVATIVE new course will support company owners managing a remote or ‘hybrid’ workforce due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Level 4 and Level 5 programmes will be delivered by Northop Business School – part of Coleg Cambria – and are aimed at directors, senior leaders and HR employees who faced the unprecedented challenge of switching operations online during lockdown.

Pre-Covid, less than 10% of the UK workforce worked remotely; now, up to a third of companies have introduced hybrid systems for all staff, meaning many will spend two to three days at home in a spare room or makeshift office.

Jane Keys, Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement at the Business School, says organisations have coped well with the unparalleled challenges of the last two years but many still struggle with overseeing individuals and teams online.

“There is no substitute for managing people face to face, but when the pandemic hit the UK that quickly changed, there was very little time to prepare for it and no precedent for what to do next,” she said.

“For some there are still obstacles to communicating virtually and trying to implement strategies, deal with everyday HR issues and measure productivity – it’s been very testing for them.

“That’s why, given demand and the feedback we’ve received from multiple industries, we decided to create a bespoke programme that will cover many of these themes, which can be tailored to different sectors.”

As well as the technical and logistical issues raised by home and hybrid working, the psychological aspect of self-isolation and motivation will also be discussed.

Other themes covered include data protection, employment law, roles and responsibilities, organisational procedures and policies, advantages and disadvantages for the individual and employer, and health and safety.

“A remote workforce needs a different style of management but to this point many people have been living it day to day and not implementing long-term policies into their business models and strategies,” said Jane.

“Future-proofing is pivotal – we have seen how important it is to have a resilient organisation – and hybrid and home working is not going to go away any time soon so embracing it and ensuring your organisation has the right legislation and training in place will form a big part of the learning.

“It’s also vital employees feel valued and trusted, given the autonomy involved.”

She added: “We are here to support people who have any questions and look forward to delivering the programme and see how it evolves over the years ahead to reflect modern working methods.”

The Level 4 course will run until August 3 (11 sessions).

The Level 5 course will run from May 3 to November 1 (11 sessions).

For more information, email employers@cambria.ac.uk or call 0300 30 30 006.

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for more news and information from Coleg Cambria.

News

Celebrities join leadership alumni for virtual graduation event

BUSINESS owners and managers were celebrated at a virtual graduation ceremony.

Hosted by Bangor Business School, the online event marked the success of more than 35 learners on the ION Leadership ILM Level 5 Leading Growth and ILM Level 3 New Leaders programmes.

Honorary Fellows and celebrity well-wishers including singer Beverley Knight, former Wales rugby international Rupert Moon and TV farmer Gareth Wyn Jones joined the successful cohort – who met in person – for a ceremony which also featured drone footage of participating organisations from across north and mid-Wales.

Bangor University Vice Chancellor Professor Iwan Davies, Anglesey MP Virginia Crosbie and Anglesey MS Rhun ap Iorweth were also in attendance.

Among those to achieve the qualification was Paralympic medallist Mark Williams, from Rhyl, the founder and CEO of Bylchau-based prosthetic leg cover design and manufacturing firm, LIMB-art.

He said: “From my perspective the course exceeded my expectations, and the best part was not only the critical learning – which enabled us to continually look at our practices, so we always have a clear vision and a plan B – but the contacts I developed that have helped and continue to help drive the business forward.”

Elin Aaron, owner of Gallt y Glyn hostel and restaurant in Llanberis, reinforced those comments, and added: “I run the business by myself and thought during Covid this would be a perfect way to network while developing my confidence as a leader.

“I’m a people pleaser and sometimes found it difficult to tread the line between being the boss and being a friend to my staff, so this helped with that.

“Like many hospitality companies we have faced challenges during the pandemic but are on our way back and growing again. Graduating from the programme will certainly have a positive impact as we look to recruit new workers and approach our busiest time of the year.”

The ION Leadership programme is accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and delivered by Swansea University with funding from the European Social Fund through Welsh Government.

Lorraine Hopkins, Manager for the Leading Business Growth programmes at Bangor Business School, paid tribute to the alumni for their dedication during a difficult time for all industries.

“We were thrilled to be able to celebrate business success at this time, when there have been and are still, so many economic challenges ahead,” said Lorraine.

“The programmes are contributing to a more confident economy by developing our leaders and sharing established business drivers for growth. The team couldn’t be prouder of our delegates.”

Event sponsor Celtest, a pioneering material testing and drilling company based in Bangor, also joined proceedings, namely Jason Chinery, who himself graduated from the programme three years ago.

“We are privileged to support ION Leadership and congratulate all of the learners for achieving this qualification during such unprecedented times,” he said.

“The course helped me to develop my leadership capabilities and gave me a broader insight into different management styles and how they impact organisational performance, productivity, and communication.

“I would encourage all business owners and managers to explore the Leading Business Growth suite of programmes at Bangor Business School; it certainly made a difference to how I approach my role, which in turn has had a decisive effect on my personal and professional life – I wish all of the graduates the best of luck for the future.”

For more information, email ionleadership@bangor.ac.uk or visit Become an extraordinary leader | ION leadership.

News

90% funded ‘green’ leadership course to help grow business post-pandemic

POST-PANDEMIC sustainability and success will be the focus of a ground-breaking new industry qualification which is 90% funded by the UK Government.

The Help to Grow: Management programme delivered by Bangor University Business School is aimed at directors and chief executives of SMEs nationwide and will be presented online and in person by some of the top names in leadership and academia.

The course begins on March 21 and is valued at £7,110, but thanks to government support will cost participants just £750.

Dr Lynn Oxborrow, Associate Professor in Management at Nottingham Business School and Programme Director of Help to Grow, hopes Welsh companies will sign up for interactive sessions that will have a long-term positive impact on their futures, and the environment.

A researcher and teacher of sustainable fashion and supply chain management, she added:

“Addressing the climate crisis is essential and everyone needs to do their bit. SMEs can play a big role here, as introducing sustainable innovations and practices not only helps to reduce carbon emissions, but it can also have a positive impact on business competitiveness.

“This could include everything from cost savings and improved efficiency to winning new business, carving out a niche, and retaining employees – the benefits have a real impact on productivity and innovation for forward thinking SMEs.”

Among those to have already signed up is Jen Jesse, Director of Operations and Administration at Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay.

“When I heard about the course, I thought it provided a great opportunity to assist in the development of the Zoo’s strategic plan,” said Jen, who holds a degree in Business Studies and Marketing from Bangor University.

“The pandemic hit us hard and now in our recovery stages we are keen to build upon the Zoo’s offering to make it a success for many years to come.

“I’m really looking forward to starting the course as I believe it will provide me with the necessary skills to continue to help drive and steer the Zoo forward.”

The programme includes 50 hours of in-depth virtual and face-to-face training, one-to-one mentoring, and guidance on how to grow a business while trying to become a ‘net zero’ enterprise.

Themes include financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, digital adoption, and responsible business practices. On completion all graduates will receive a bespoke Growth Plan.

Nicola Sturrs, Marketing and Administration Manager for the Help to Grow: Management programme and Business Development Manager for ION Leadership programmes at Bangor University Business School, says there has already been widespread interest from multiple sectors.

“There is an appetite out there for financial growth in tandem with sustainability and a ‘greener’ approach to business,” she said.

“The pandemic has given many leaders, managers, and executives an opportunity to reflect on their long-term models and address issues they may not have had the time to address because of day-to-day demands.

“Help to Grow is the perfect platform to gain inspiration, from those delivering the programme and other companies taking part, so we look forward to getting started.”

Anne Kiem OBE, Executive Director, Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, added: “Business schools support many thousands of small and medium sized businesses to address pressing issues they face, including growing their businesses in sustainable ways.

“All the business schools delivering this course have been accredited by the Small Business Charter – an assessment led by small business leaders themselves.”

For more information on the Help to Grow: Management course, visit gov.uk/helptogrow or call Nicola Sturrs on 01248 383024. Alternatively, email: n.sturrs@bangor.ac.uk.

News, Research

Government COVID Response did not effectively support UK migrants, new study suggests

The Government’s response to curbing the spread of Covid-19 did not do enough to support the challenges or needs of migrants living in the UK, new research suggests.

The study, conducted by Professor Benedetta Cappellini at Durham University Business School, alongside colleagues Dorothy Ai-wan Yen on of Brunel Business School, Hsiao-Pei Yang of Coventry University and Suraksha Gupta of Newcastle University London, sought to better understand why migrants living in the UK experienced additional mental strains and anxieties during Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown measures imposed by the Government, in order to help facilitate justice for overlooked parts of society.

Professor Cappellini said;

“The Government employed a variety of interventions to minimise the transmission and impact of Covid-19. These included communication campaigns through media, healthcare support, social distancing, national and regional lockdowns, and financial support schemes for businesses. Nevertheless, Covid-19 does not affect all groups of people equally. Our study shows that migrants struggle to cope more than non-migrants during global pandemics because of cultural barriers, reduced access to healthcare and welfare support, and limited social and often economic capital.”

Globally, the researchers say, policymakers have overlooked the challenges faced by international migrants in their host countries during the pandemic. However, the UK in particular received controversial global reviews and scrutiny due to the Government’s initial pandemic response and high death toll.

The researchers conducted 60 interviews with Chinese, Italian and Iranian migrants living in the UK. These nationalities were specifically chosen due to the high number of deaths within their countries at the time the study took place, and because of the stricter prevention measures enforced within their own borders, at a time before such restrictions came into place in the UK.

The interviewees were asked general questions about their personal backgrounds, professions and their motivations to move to the UK, as well as more exploratory questions designed to gauge their understanding of the lockdown and government measures both in their home countries and in the UK. Researchers also asked interviewees about their daily experiences of mandatory confinement and their different coping practices.

The results showed that, similarly to UK nationals, migrants adapted their living and working habits during the lockdown to best comply with government guidance and to stay safe. However, the research shows that, in the early stages of the pandemic, many migrants experienced unexpected and significant new worries if they adopted additional health and safety practices in line with the guidance distributed by their home countries that had not yet been advised or adopted by UK Government.

For example, interviewees expressed mask wearing to be a common source of worry in the early months of the pandemic. Migrants whose home countries were advocating mask use were eager to protect themselves from infection but remained wary of a negative or hostile public response.

Professor Cappellini says,

“At the time of the fieldwork, the UK Government was still advising against the benefits of wearing face masks to the general public, but participants offered counterarguments in favour of mask use, citing sources from their home countries, including newspaper articles and information received through networks of friends and family. Some were also actively involved in convincing sceptical British colleagues and friends via social media of the benefits of mask wearing. Nevertheless, many participants said they were at times reluctant to wear a mask so as not to seem different from UK friends and colleagues.”

According to the researchers, the unexpected and negative reactions migrant interviewees had received from those around them triggered additional emotional stress and anxieties. As a result, migrants were faced with adopting “multi-layered integrated coping strategies”, developing individual, household-based and community-based protective strategies, in order to stay safe and not provoke additional anxieties.

Families which encompassed mixed nationalities were placed under further strain when migrants’ families overseas implored their UK-based relatives to adopt more cautious behaviour such as mask wearing and social distancing, particularly when British members of the family chose not to do so.

Other concerns highlighted by the study was the limited effectiveness of Government messaging to penetrate some migrant communities where English was not a first language and, consequently, communities did not engage with British media or news and were unable to both fully follow lockdown rules or use support services.

Professor Cappellini says,

“Our paper illustrates how coping became paradoxical, because alongside the need to cope with the pandemic, migrants also had to cope with the hostile reactions that their initial coping strategies provoked from those around them. Migrants had to learn to cope with coping.”

By highlighting this concept, the researchers believe their study leads to several managerial implications for governments and policymakers to consider in the event of future pandemics or Covid-19 lockdowns, to best ensure public health, safety and wellbeing are protected. Action should be taken, they say, to support migrant families and communities and to promote societal understanding and inclusion.