Department of Business and Enterprise
Business School
Welcome to our Department of Business and Enterprise
Thank you for taking the time to check out what we offer at University College Birmingham, the highest-ranking university in the region as voted by students at the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. Our student support is the best in the region too, according to students, as is our provision for international students and postgraduates.
If you are looking at joining us to carve out a career in business, here is a glimpse into our student and staff community - with insight into the placements and enrichment we offer - to see if we are right for you.
Paul Massiah
Head of Business and Enterprise
Welcome from Paul Massiah
Welcome to our Department of Business and Enterprise.
This department is part of our Business School, a centre of excellence for the delivery of high quality higher education, producing highly-skilled graduates succeeding across many sectors, along with breaking into new areas to meet the nation’s skills gap.
Our alumni run multi-million-pound retail businesses, manage top businesses, both large and small, work in companies on a global scale and are leading the way in marketing for big brands and independent ventures.
And to ensure your learning is informed in line with industry trends and insight, you will benefit from our fantastic network of industry contacts, made up of successful leaders from the business community and entrepreneurs, and membership of influential organisations. We look forward to welcoming you to our department.
“This really is a university where you will not only receive a high quality teaching and learning experience, but award-winning support at the very highest level. We pride ourselves on our industry connections to give you the best opportunities to gain the graduate advantage."
What’s happening
Business students learn from leading figures at AI conference
The Business School has hosted an exciting future-focused conference on the transformational and unexplored potential of AI.
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Invictus Games inspire at tourism and events conference
The new academic year got off to a flying start as the Business School hosted its third annual Inspire Conference.
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University launches government-funded pilot to upskill adult learners
The Introduction to Cyber Security and Introduction to Digital Marketing courses are part of the Modular Acceleration Pro…
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Marketing students rise to the TikTok challenge to showcase Birmingham icons
Digital Marketing and Marketing Management students presented with the rare opportunity to take part in a social m…
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Commonwealth Games creative agency supports students' industry projects
Undergraduates from across the Business School had a full day of riveting guest talks and workshops with the creative m…
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Blog | Executive MBA versus MBA - what's the difference and which is right for me?
An MBA qualification is known as the gold standard in business administration, but you can take this to an e…
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Business conference equips learners with skills to navigate their future careers
The Sustainable Futures Business Conference launches today at the University, packed with an impressive array…
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Blog | Black History Month Spotlight – Celebrating Jen Ellin
Since graduating as a mature student, Jen now runs Jen's Tailored Events, with plans to provide opportunities for young people wit…
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Event empowering startups commences at Business School
The first-ever Skills4Startups Festival Roadshow took place earlier this month at University College Birmingham’s Business School. Pr…
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Luxury hotel boss returns to University to offer hospitality placement opportunities
A University College Birmingham graduate who has managed some of the UK's most famous luxury hotels has re…
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New placement opportunities for marketing students as agency boss delivers guest talk
University College Birmingham students have had the chance to gain expert insight on marketing from the h…
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Acclaimed business leader brings expertise to University to benefit students
A young leadership winner dedicated to creating opportunities for the region is now bringing her expertise to Univ…
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World of opportunities for students at biggest careers fair in University's history
No fewer than 80 employers – including the NHS, an award-winning national construction company and a kids’…
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University goes green with Chambers' Sustainable Business Series campaign
University College Birmingham will be spearheading this year’s Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Sustainable B…
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Digital squad of students support Team Scotland to tell Commonwealth Games story
Students from University College Birmingham are working as the official behind-the-scenes digital squad to tel…
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Students got to hear from motivational speaker Vijay Vikram Singh, the voice of the biggest reality show in India, Big Boss, during a guest talk for the Business School. During his visit, he shared insight into the importance of failure, stress management and having a growth mindset. He also talked about the importance of communication and enhancing your skills. Scroll for more >>>
Farm Urban
Farm Urban, a vertical farm revolutionising the food system, hosted our Business Enterprise students for their Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship module. They were taken on a tour of the facilities where they learned about the aeroponic technology used to grow crops without soil, and the sustainable and ethical elements of the project. Scroll for more >>>
Farm Urban (cont'd)
A highlight was learning about Farm Urban's Greens for Good campaign, an initiative aimed at educating the community about the benefits of fresh produce and accessing nutritious food locally. Our students gained insight and explored ways to develop solutions to support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Scroll for more >>>
Beyond the classroom
At University College Birmingham, we offer education and training that goes far beyond everyday classes and lectures. We are committed to providing enrichment opportunities for our students, from industry trips and expert visits to linkups with local charities, entry into competitions and much more.
Scroll to find out more about what's been going on in our department:
Nicky Millard
Deputy Dean, Curriculum Development and Student Recruitment for the Business School
Meet Nicky Millard
We’re really proud of our links and partnerships with employers and alumni. At the heart of what we do is preparing you for a graduate career in your industry. Our industry partners regularly visit to speak to students, set projects and provide graduate employment opportunities.
We’re also really proud of the outstanding support we’ve been recognised as providing for students while on their journey with us. It gives us great pleasure to pass on our skills to the next generation and your future starts here. We are ready to kick-start your career and we look forward to seeing you soon.
*Nicky gained her degree with us before launching a career in hotel business management in the USA and the UK before moving into HR and lecturing
Our teaching and learning
Whether you want to go into international business management, work for a major company or organisation, make your mark in smaller enterprises, launch your own business or anything else business or finance-related, our aim is simple - to turn you into a stand-out professional. We have an award-winning reputation for the highest quality courses and a learning experience that sets us apart from bigger universities.
Our degrees are designed to develop you personally and professionally, with graduate advantage, employability and enrichment sessions threaded throughout the curriculum, sitting alongside really interesting theory modules. Our partnership with the University of Warwick, a top-ranking Russell Group university, also brings extra opportunities including access to guest speakers and additional resources.
Theory
Our courses are developed and taught by experienced lecturing staff, meaning they can draw on their industry expertise and years of experience to make scenario-based discussions, debates and concepts come to life, supporting the linking of theory to practice.
You will learn so much from our lecturing teams, who are passionate about their profession and eager to inspire and nurture the next generation of business professionals.
We also have many invited guest lecturers from industry participate in our courses, sharing their knowledge and experiences to enhance your learning.
Students also have a lot to bring and as a team, we will also learn a lot from you! We encourage you to share your perspectives and viewpoints, especially when reflecting on your own life and placement experiences.
Practical
Placements are key to success as employers want you to have real experience. We have excellent links with businesses and organisations across the world, so we can allocate you to a diverse range of placements.
This exposure to different learning environments opens opportunities for you when you qualify. And you will receive real-life training in our Financial Trading Suite and access to entrepreneurism experts.
Support
Our support is exceptional, so much so, our students voted to make us the winner of the Student Support award at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2022 and we came a close second in 2023. In 2024, we were voted the best for student support in the West Midlands.
Throughout your studies, you will not only have a personal tutor, but a link tutor during placements and module leaders to support you through academic modules. And we have a whole range of additional support services available, providing you with as much or as little support as you need to succeed in your degree. Our smaller teaching groups enable all students to grow and flourish, with strong peer support and friendship.
Our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2021-24 is key to how we approach the educational journey, focusing on three main pillars that set out our commitment to your learning and teaching experience while you are studying with us.
- Pillar 1 – Provide accessible and inclusive teaching and learning across a wide range of vocationally-led courses
- Pillar 2 – Develop next generation opportunities and skills through innovative, future-focused curriculum and pedagogy
- Pillar 3 – Shape local and global sectors, promoting sustainable futures and global citizenship
Industry testimonial
"I have been very impressed with University College Birmingham's committed focus to driving entrepreneurism in the region. In today’s business world, being a founder and an entrepreneur is a viable career option and the University is helping to provide the necessary skills and support required to help individuals take this vital first step."
Our students
Jen Ellin
Jen had already built a successful business, but her course led to a change in direction.
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Gabriela Mester
When she and her husband decided to transition from roles in human resources to entrepreneurship in construction, Gabriela realised she needed to broaden her skill set.
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Oliver Johnson
Knowing that he wants to retire early, Oliver is leaving nothing to chance and is doing what he can to bolster his career opportunities within finance and accounting.
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Kelly Sambatari
Representing a well-known international brand on social media may sound daunting, but for Kelly, her degree had already shown her the way.
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Sven Opolcer
Since receiving his first class degree, Sven has been busy driving diverse projects on a German car giant’s graduate scheme.
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Afroz Ahmed
Completing a culinary college course in his home city of Mumbai, Afroz was keen to expand on his skills overseas.
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Victor Basinyi
Already a successful businessman as CEO of a logistics company, Victor decided to start a new educational journey with a foundation degree at University College Birmingham.
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Daniela Caprian
Since graduating with her Enterprise Management MSc, Daniela has used her course experience and knowledge to develop integral IT systems for the likes of Volvo and E.ON.
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Maja Bosanac
Having moved from Croatia to study towards her dream events career, entrepreneur Maja is now setting the trend for sustainability in the industry.
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Melissa Payne
Melissa's marketing career has seen her climb the ladder to become a manager within a multi-million pound company.
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Ross Loveitt
The current President of the Guild of Students built up an armoury of transferable skills on his MA, from writing reports to instigating negotiations.
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Dan Clarke
Dan has pressed all the right buttons since graduating and is now marketing apps and business services for a start-up in Birmingham.
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Our facilities
Based in McIntyre House, our Financial Trading Suite at University College Birmingham is one of the largest among all universities in the UK. Providing hands-on training opportunities for students on our finance and accounting courses and other business and finance-related modules, this cutting-edge suite has been built to ensure every student develops the practical skills needed for this sector.
Based at our Digital Skills Hub at Camden House, our Digital Creative Studio features a state-of-the-art video and audio production studio, as well as an open-plan collaborative space specially designed for the purposes of digital content creation. The Digital Creative Studio also houses a dedicated teaching lab complete with high-spec computers, industry-standard media technology and editing software.
Our courses
Business Enterprise BA (Hons) / FdA
Dream of being your own boss? If you aspire to set up your own company or advance in management positions throughout the enterprising service sector, this…
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Business Management BA (Hons) / FdA
Want to forge a flourishing career in the competitive world of business? This CMI-accredited degree course will give you a sound grounding in everything fr…
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Digital Marketing BA (Hons) / FdA
Become part of the revolution in the modern day marketing sector by studying our DMI-accredited Digital Marketing degree course. Learn about digital campaign…
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Finance and Accounting BSc (Hons) / FdSc
Aspiring to become an accountant or work in the finance sector? This course arms you with specialist knowledge and practical skills for these fields,…
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Marketing Management BA (Hons) / FdA
Master the marketing profession by studying our Marketing Management degree course. Featuring live projects, guest lectures, an overseas residential visit…
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Introduction to Digital Marketing
Would you like to enhance your skills in digital marketing? Our introduction to digital marketing short course lets you explore the latest cutting-edge topic…
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Enterprise Management MSc / PGDip
Our Enterprise Management postgraduate course will equip you with the business knowledge and experience to advance in management positions within the enterpr…
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International Business Management MSc
Open to graduates from any subject background, this postgraduate course will develop your understanding of international business for a wide variety of c…
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Marketing Management for Events, Hospitality and Tourism MA / PGDip
This postgraduate course enables you to develop the specialist skills and knowledge to start a marketing career within the…
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Executive MBA
Our Executive MBA (Masters of Business Administration) explores a wide range of business topics, and will help you to understand and implement strategic thinking, taking you out…
Read moreMeet your lecturers
Beverley Compaore
Beverley has worked at University College Birmingham for over 30 years. Prior to joining University College Birmingham (UCB), Beverley worked in the hospitality industry in…
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Nicola Sandford
I have worked within the Finance sector for over 13 years, working in the UK and Overseas, I have worked for UCB for the past 12 years within the finance department. Being a m…
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Simon Chatterton
I joined UCB in 1995 and have worked in a variety of senior management roles including examinations and admissions. I have developed extensive experience of schools liaison,…
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Faiza Khan
Prior to joining UCB in 2005, my work experience included working as a postgraduate research assistant, a marketing research officer for an IT company and a sales and marketing exe…
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Gwyneth Stewart
I worked in the Finance industry before entering education initially as a part-time student, obtaining a 1st class honours degree in Marketing Management. This was followed by…
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We look forward to seeing you on campus
As you prepare to join us, here's a refresher on some of the essentials: