As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, Durham University Business School has launched a strategic partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the North East.
This timely collaboration brings together the Business School’s academic expertise and shared regional policy influence with FSB’s deep grassroots engagement to deliver meaningful, long-term support to the SME community. The partnership will be led by Reshma Begum, FSB’s North East Development Manager, and reflects a shared ambition to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth across the region.
As the UK’s largest and most influential not-for-profit business support and representative organisation, FSB has long played a vital role in advocating for small businesses and the self-employed, offering practical services, and influencing policy at both regional and national levels.
A key element of the partnership is the co-delivery of six annual events hosted at the Business School. These events will provide SMEs with expert insights, practical guidance, and valuable networking opportunities, helping bridge the gap between academic research and business reality. This complements the School's established Smart & Scale programme which connects SMEs with academic and industry experts to foster collaborative research projects and skill development.
This partnership not only underscores the Business School’s long-standing commitment to regional engagement but also marks a renewed and future-facing investment in the success of SMEs - a community that is vital to the North East’s economy and prosperity.
“As we celebrate the Business School’s 60th anniversary, this partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses exemplifies our commitment to supporting the North East’s economic growth through meaningful collaboration. By bringing together academic insight and the lived experience of SME leaders, we can create practical solutions that drive innovation, resilience, and long-term success for our region’s businesses.” - Professor Kieran Fernandes, Executive Dean, Faculty of Business, Durham University
“We’re delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Durham University, building on our existing relationship to bring more value and opportunity to the SME and self-employed community in the region. Bridging the industry-academia gap to deliver meaningful mutual benefits has been a long-standing commitment for both organisations and, through the delivery of high-quality events and partnership, we look forward to creating opportunities for collaboration and growth.” - Reshma Begum, Development Manager, FSB North East England.
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