Business leaders are being urged to get behind a vital ecosystem to help the region’s businesses improve productivity and attract and retain talent.
Teesside University Business School is leading on the creation of the ecosystem and this week hosted key business and community leaders to update them on how it was enabling the region’s industry to innovate and collaborate.
The event which was opened by the University’s chancellor, Paul Drechsler CBE, follows the opening of the new look £7.5 million Teesside University Business School in December 2018.
At the opening, businesses were asked to suggest ways which they would work with the University to enable an entrepreneurial ecosystem to flourish across the Tees Valley.
This week they heard how staff and academics from the Business School have been working to develop those suggestions and enable the ecosystem to flourish.
Chancellor Paul Drechsler CBE said: “Since I formally opened the Business School in December I’ve been incredibly impressed by the momentum it has built. Pace, ambition and collaboration have been key.
“The University is a key player in this ecosystem and has set out to position the Business School as pivotal to the future success, acting as a magnet for talent and a hive of ideas, innovation and inspiration.”
Projects which are already established are LEAP 50, a programme which has been developed in conjunction with the Tees Valley Combined Authority, to work with ambitious businesses to support them to scale-up and is now acknowledged as helping to support the companies which are best placed to grow the region’s economy.
In addition, the Business School offers a number of options for flexible learning delivered in collaboration with employers. These include an innovative MBA degree apprenticeship which allow aspiring senior leaders to study for a qualification and apply their knowledge in the workplace.
The MBA is also available through the University’s innovative new online distance learning platform.
The ecosystem is centred around six key areas: policy, finance, culture, support, human capital and markets.
Dean of the Business School, Dr Susan Laing said: “The elements which will make this ecosystem a success are the surrounding environment, the participating actors and the culture and attitudes.
“We are therefore delighted that so many key figures from the world of business and industry are already engaging and collaborating with us to help make this vision a reality.
“It was fantastic to welcome them back to the Business School to show them how far we have progressed with this mission since they first learnt about it six months ago.”
For more information visit tees.ac.uk/businessschool