York Business School in the running at the "Oscars of higher education"

A free Law Clinic to support the local community, a Tourism Strategy for York and a unique hospitality careers programme for young people have earned York St John University a coveted nomination in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2024. Now into their 20^th year, the THE Awards are widely known as the "Oscars of higher education."  They recognise excellence across UK and Irish universities and attract hundreds of entries.

York Business School (YBS) has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year 2024 for its ‘Power of Partnerships’ submission, recognising some of the many ways YBS works with and for the community in Yorkshire.

Key to the YBS ethos is driving collaborations between academia, industry, local government and community stakeholders in Yorkshire. The award nomination has recognised this work in three key areas of law, tourism and hospitality.

Relaunched post-pandemic in 2022, the YBS Law Clinic was developed in partnership with law students to support residents and businesses who cannot afford legal services. It addresses catastrophic gaps in legal aid with a team of 84 students and six supervisors who provide free legal assistance. Demand for the Clinic continues to grow with hundreds of people supported with civil, landlord and will disputes, business development, alongside advice for prisoners and victims of alleged miscarriages of justice.

Beyond its own community, YBS has worked in close partnership with civic stakeholders to safeguard the region's economic sustainability.  City of York Council engaged YBS to lead the creation of a new tourism strategy. The team researched the economic and social impact of York’s tourism attractions and established the York Tourism Advisory Board to develop a new tourism strategy. With participation from over 60 organisations, the strategy resulted in a Local Visitor Economy Partnership for York and North Yorkshire.

The third pillar of the YBS work is their innovative Junior Board programme to support the hospitality industry. Hospitality is worth over £2 billion in the region, but the sector has experienced issues with the retention of employees, with many young people believing there is no progression or room for growth. The Junior Board initiative addresses skills gaps and raises the profile of the hospitality sector and is already being used as an example of best practice by Visit England

Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of York Business School said: “By serving as a dynamic hub to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise, York Business School aims to drive innovation, tackle complex societal challenges, and facilitate knowledge exchange for social and economic benefit. 

“The THE Award nomination is testament to the unwavering dedication of the Business School team, the innovative spirit of our students, and the strength of our entire community. I’m delighted that this has been recognised by these prestigious awards where we stand alongside some fantastic peers in a hugely competitive category.”

John Gill, THE’s editor, said the awards have been a window on “the wonderful achievements” of a sector that has “undergone extraordinary transformation without ever losing sight of the vital role it plays across the UK and Ireland”.

“In 2024, it’s fair to say that higher education is going through a challenging period, but these awards are a constant reminder that we should never underestimate the drive and dedication of those who work in our universities to transform lives for the better,” Mr Gill added.

“Enthusiasm for these awards as a way to showcase those achievements remains undimmed, with more entries in our 20th year than ever before. Our sincere congratulations to all those shortlisted in such a competitive year – it really is an achievement to have reached this stage.”

Winners will be announced on 28 November at a ceremony in Birmingham’s ICC.

Learn more about the finalists’ work on the THE website, and for more information on the awards, visit www.the-awards.co.uk.