University of Nottingham Unveils Inclusive Entrepreneurship Charter

The University of Nottingham released a national charter on October 27, 2023 at London's famous Shard skyscraper in a major effort aimed at boosting diversity and lowering obstacles to entrepreneurship.

Dr. Lorna Treanor, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Nottingham University Business School, was the driving force behind the creation of this ground-breaking Charter.

The Charter has five fundamental principles:

• Increasing the number of varied role models in the corporate ecosystem.
• Providing all-inclusive corporate assistance.
• Providing opportunities for lifelong learning in entrepreneurial education.
• Providing equal access to business funding.
• Putting in place quantifiable goals for inclusive corporate policy and procurement processes.

Dr. Lorna emphasized the special problems that underprivileged and marginalized groups confront in accessing entrepreneurial possibilities, notably equal access to funding. of 2017, less than 1p of every £1 invested in the UK supported women-owned firms, with inequities considerably worse for Black women.

The Charter strives to address these disparities via collaborative efforts by individuals, organizations, agencies, and businesses dedicated to equalizing opportunities and results.

Several prominent organizations have already pledged their support for the Charter, including the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, the Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship Association, Black Business Network UK, SFEDI, the Gender Index, and the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs. They are devoted to supporting individuals seeking to establish or develop their companies with suitable and equitable assistance.

Entrepreneurship, according to Professor Mark Hart, Deputy Director of the Enterprise Research Centre, is critical for innovation, job creation, and economic progress. However, differences in access to finance and company growth continue. Shari Leigh, Founder of the Black Business Network, emphasized the necessity of organizations collaborating to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs throughout their business path, highlighting the Charter as a potential model for effecting change.

The nationwide introduction of this Charter is a big step forward in creating a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom.