>> News
>> SCHOOL NEWS
>> Official research partner
Cranfield is the official research partner for the National
Business Awards, the UK’s premier, cross-industry
accolades for enterprise excellence. The Bettany Centre
for Entrepreneurship at Cranfield was chosen because of
its extensive interaction with high performing businesses
and its international reputation for cutting-edge research.
The Bettany Centre will be conducting new research in
partnership with the National Business Awards involving
80,000 businesses that have been award nominees and
winners.
>> Top 10 in FT world rankings
>> Entrepreneurs share secrets of success
Over 250 entrepreneurs, investors, UK start-ups and advisors attended Cranfield
VentureDay earlier this year, the School’s annual conference and networking event
for entrepreneurs. The sold-out event was organised by the Bettany Centre for
Entrepreneurship, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Business Growth and
Development Programme (BGP) this year.
Dr Stephanie Hussels, a lecturer in the Bettany Centre and conference organiser
commented: “Entrepreneurship is a key aspect of the modern economy and at Cranfield
our aim is to equip people with the knowledge, confidence, and capabilities to start
and grow their businesses. VentureDay brings together a network of successful and
experienced business people to debate current issues facing owner-managers and
share their secrets of success.”
The impressive line-up of speakers included Angus Thirlwell, co-founder of Hotel
Chocolat, the luxury chocolate manufacturer and Gü’s founder James Averdieck.
Debra Charles, recent recipient of the Cranfield Entrepreneur Alumnus of the Year
award, gave a keynote speech about her journey in establishing the leading technology
company Novacroft.
In the latest Financial Times ranking of executive education providers, the School’s customised
executive development programmes have risen to 8th in the world, 5th in Europe and 1st in the
UK. They were also ranked 4th in the world for international programmes and participants. The
School’s open programmes’ position remained strong at 3rd in the UK and 10th in Europe.
There was more good news for the School in the Financial Times ranking of global Masters in
Finance programmes. The School’s MSc in Finance and Management rose from 11th to 8th in
the world and from 3rd to 2nd in the UK.
>> New iTunes U course
>> Educating international business leaders
The Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship has launched a
new course on iTunes U which gives an insight into the
realities of entrepreneurship and explains how successful
entrepreneurs deal with the many challenges they face.
The ‘Real Entrepreneurship’ course is grounded in rigorous
research from Cranfield’s extensive experience of helping
entrepreneurial businesses and dispels some of the myths
about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
The Times Higher Education has named Cranfield as one of the best places to study if you
want to become a global CEO. The Alma Mater Index ranked higher education institutions
based on the number of Fortune Global 500 CEOs they have produced.
Cranfield was ranked 4th in the UK and 92nd in the world. Only three other UK universities
featured in the top 100. Researchers found that CEOs who graduated from Cranfield
currently run companies with combined total revenues in excess of US $81.9 billion.
The Times Higher Education Alma Matter Index revealed that the majority of CEOs have a
university education, with many earning multiple degrees, including MBAs and doctorates.
Of the 499 CEOs in the Fortune Global 500, 113 have an MBA and 53 have a doctorate.
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>> News
>> How do NHS
>> RESEARCH
managers manage?
>> Progress stalls for women on boards
The 2013 Female FTSE Report,
produced by Cranfield’s International
Centre for Women Leaders, confirmed
that progress on appointing more
women onto company boards had
stalled, suggesting that firms have
become complacent in tackling the
issue.
The School has completed a threeyear in-depth research project to
investigate the roles, contributions and
realities of front-line and middle NHS
managers. Funded by the National
Institute for Health Research, Professor
David Buchanan led the project team
who consulted over 1,200 managers
in six acute trusts through interviews,
focus groups, and a survey with 600
responses. The findings highlight
the key role of middle managers in
implementing change and recommends
how an enabling environment can be
fostered.
Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE, said: “At Cranfield we have stood steadfast against quotas on the basis that Chairmen
must understand the benefits of gender diversity and commit to achieving it. Undoubtedly a number of Chairmen do get it
and see a gender balanced board as the ‘new normal’. Unfortunately too many Chairmen choose to ignore the issue in the
false hope that it will go away.”
The 2013 ‘100 Women to Watch’ list was compiled by Cranfield with support from
the leading search firm Sapphire Partners and provides a treasure trove of talent for
Chairmen looking to breathe new life into the boards of the UK’s leading companies.
All 100 women are currently on the executive committees of FTSE listed companies, in
major financial institutions or professional service firms, or in senior executive roles in
large charitable organisations and are poised and ready for a board position.
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Management Focus | Autumn 2013
Almost two-thirds (64%) of employers
agree that weaknesses in leadership
and management skills in the UK are
holding back company growth and yet
only four in ten companies offer their staff
training in these crucial skills, according
to a report by Cranfield and learndirect.
The joint publication ‘The new vocational
currency: investing for success’ examines
the value of vocational qualifications to
both individuals and employers and also
explores the issue of management skills
in the UK.
The Institution of Occupational Safety
and Health (IOSH) is funding Cranfield
to conduct a 2-year research project
into safety leadership in low hazard
environments. Dr Colin Pilbeam,
Professor David Denyer and Dr Noeleen
Doherty will investigate what safety
leaders in low hazard environments
do, how they do it and how their social
network influences what they can
achieve.
>> BOOKS
Employee Engagement with Sustainable Business
Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE, Director of the Centre at Cranfield commented:
“We get very irritated when search companies tell us that there are not enough women
available. The hundreds of women who have made it onto our watch lists completely
dispel that myth.”
the service sector
Research report
The 2013 report revealed that in the first six months since the last report (March 2012), the pace of change was extremely
encouraging with 44% of new FTSE 100 board appointments going to women and 36% on FTSE 250 companies. However,
those high levels were short-lived and in six months, the figures dropped to 26% and 29% respectively, showing a
considerable gap from the 33% required to reach Lord Davies’ recommendation of 25% women on boards by 2015.
Since 2009, Cranfield’s International Centre for Women Leaders has produced a list of
‘100 Women to Watch’ to encourage Chairmen and recruiters to think creatively about
their search for new talent rather than look to the same old faces.
holds UK firms back
>> Safety issues in
The new vocational currency:
investing for success
The findings were launched at a
business breakfast hosted by Sir
Roger Carr at the CBI in London. The
l-r: Lord Mervyn Davies, Dr Ruth Sealy, Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE,
Business Secretary, Vince Cable and
Mark Hall (Barclays), Maria Miller MP, Sir Roger Carr, Vince Cable MP
Minister for Women and Equalities
Maria Miller along with the report
authors Professor Susan Vinnicombe OBE and Dr Ruth Sealy discussed the report’s implications with an audience of
business leaders, head hunters and journalists.
>> 100 Women to Watch
>> Lack of training
Employee
Engagement
with
Sustainable
Business
How to Change the World
Whilst Keeping your Day Job
Nadine Exter
>> How to change the world whilst keeping your day job
Nadine Exter’s book identifies how leading companies are strategically engaging employees in sustainability.
The book includes advice to those responsible for embedding sustainability, as well as those employees
looking to make a difference where they work.
>> The complete marketer
Emeritus Professor Malcolm McDonald’s 45th book explains every aspect of the marketing mix including
internet marketing, understanding consumers, market audits, segmentation and managing a sales team.
>> Corporate financial strategy
Dr Ruth Bender’s book, available from December 2013, provides an introduction to the field of corporate
finance and shows how an organisation’s financial strategy can be aligned with their overall business
strategy.
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