New funding opportunity for disabled entrepreneurs

The Open University’s (OU) brand new Open Business Creators Fund for Disabled Entrepreneurs is now open with a total of £25,000 in funding offered from the OU to help disabled individuals in the UK to kickstart their business ideas.

Launched in collaboration with UK charity Scope, this initiative will offer participants the knowledge and resources to start their own businesses, including developing a business plan and presenting their business idea to a panel of judges. The fund aims to boost their confidence to pursue entrepreneurial ideas and will also connect them with valuable business support networks.

Robert Wilson, Student Opportunities Manager at the OU, said: “Part of our mission with Open Business Creators at The Open University is to reduce inequalities in the entrepreneurial landscape through providing equitable access to support and funding and championing under-represented and under-estimated founders. We are excited to launch this type of entrepreneurial support to those outside our student body for the first time this year.”

Esteemed entrepreneur joins latest BLEP webinar

The Business School’s Black Leadership and Empowerment Programme (BLEP) pilot continued this month with investor, advisor and one of the UK’s most successful media leaders, Rob Pierre, as the keynote speaker.

Rob (pictured) is the co-founder and former CEO of digital marketing business Jellyfish. As CEO, he grew the business to more than 2,000 employees, working across 28 global offices on clients including Google and Netflix, before it was sold to The Brandtech Group last summer.

A contributor to the international speaker circuit, podcasts, and national and industry press, Rob appeared on the Channel 4 show ‘The Money Maker’ alongside the programme host, entrepreneur Eric Collins, in 2021. He has featured on a listing of the UK’s 100 most powerful Black Britons, the Powerlist, for the last three years.

Latest OU BBC co-production explores exploitation of Black musicians

The first in a new three-part music series 'The Battle for Black Music: Paid in Full' aired on BBC Two on 21 September, showing the story of how some of most-loved artists were exploited because of their race.

This Open University/BBC co-production, supported by academics from the Business School and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, follows the story of how well-known greats, such as Louis Armstrong and Prince, suffered. It looks at the stories of how successful rock ‘n’ roll, blues and jazz musicians became victims to this treatment by the music industry.

Catch up on iPlayer or visit the dedicated OU Connect Page where you can watch exclusive interviews with Nile Rogers, Ice T, and industry experts from the series. 

Policing lecturer wins research excellence award

Dr Keely Duddin, lecturer in Policing Organisation and Practice, has won an award for her work on maternity journeys for women in policing at the OU’s 2024 Research Excellence Awards. Keely was one of three joint winners in the ‘Outstanding Early Career Researcher’ category of the awards, which recognise outstanding research and celebrate achievement within the OU research environment.

The research project, ‘Are forces past their 'due date'? The impact of mothers' experiences during pregnancy and returning to the workplace after a period of maternity leave’, focused on the health and wellbeing of officers and staff following pregnancy and maternity leave and made a number of recommendations which were well received by police forces involved.

Watch Keely's video below to find out more about her own experience in returning to work in policing after becoming a mother, and what inspired her to start this project. 

OU short courses on show

The Open University short courses team attended the MK: Job Show this month to demonstrate how a completing a short course with the OU can support career growth and employability. Dr Haider Ali (pictured), a lecturer in the Business School, also gave some presentations at the exhibition. One was around how to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) for improved effectiveness and efficiency at work, while the other explored how to start your own business and how to plan for success.

Haider was joined by colleagues around the University to discuss various study opportunities including short courses in business, marketing, communications, languages and AI.  

Policing lecturer’s research contributes to new law on pet theft

Research by Dr Helen Selby-Fell, from the Business School’s Department for Policing, provided the basis for evidence informing a pet theft policy paper, which has now led to a new law recognising pet theft as a specific crime for the first time. The Pet Abduction Act now considers the pain, stress and fear suffered by stolen cats and dogs and their owners.

Helen worked with Keele University colleague Dr Daniel Allen to explore ‘victim impact’ when dog theft was being widely reported during the Covid-19 lockdowns. They developed the evidence base underpinning the ‘Pet Theft Taskforce policy paper’, published by the Home Office in 2021, which included a number of recommendations designed to tackle the theft of dogs.

The Pet Abduction Bill has finally been introduced and under the new law, police forces in England must now record pet theft as a specific crime. By recording it as a specific crime, the animals and breeds most at risk can be identified, as well as the areas where pets are being targeted, to help stamp out the underground trade in stolen pets.

OU report highlights benefits of Employee Ownership for sustainable food and farming

A new report from The Open University, in collaboration with Riverford Organic Farmers and Sustain, explores how employee ownership can address the complex challenges facing the food and farming sector.

The report, titled ‘Managing employee ownership transitions for sustainability in food and farming enterprises: Learning from Riverford’, delves into the case of Riverford Organic Farmers, an organic farming and vegetable box delivery company that successfully transitioned to 100% employee ownership in 2023.

Business School colleagues, Professor Emma Bell and Dr Charles Barthold, examined the key factors that contribute to successful employee ownership implementation. Emma, Professor of Organisation and Leadership at The Open University, who led the research, said: “Riverford’s experience illustrates how employee ownership can be a powerful tool for building a sustainable and resilient food system. Our research highlights the importance of careful planning and a focus on employee engagement throughout the transition process into employee ownership.”

SHORT COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Creating a successful and sustainable business

Improved forms of sustainable business design and innovation are key drivers to positive change in the world around us. 

This CPD course will give you the knowledge, latest thinking, optimised tools, methodologies and mindset to be a positive changemaker in the world. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, thinking of starting a new business venture or simply interested in this area from a personal point of view, this course will give you the skills to create and implement business for sustainable outcomes.

Alumni Council meeting update

The Alumni Council (AC) plays an integral role in the success of the Business School, offering valuable insights on strategy, building strong global alumni networks, and leading innovative projects that benefit both students and alumni.

At their latest online meeting in September, the AC welcomed two new members, Tillmann Henssler and David Monk, and introduced Keith Schofield, the new Head of the Business School. The meeting also focused on a review of alumni benefits, including the development of a new mentoring programme aimed at supporting OUBS students and alumni. This initiative is progressing and will be a key focus in the months ahead.

The Council also discussed recruitment planning for the next phase of AC members, and explored ways to involve alumni in upcoming initiatives and projects.

The next AC meeting will be held in December, where members will meet face-to-face at the Milton Keynes campus to continue their vital work in strengthening the Business School’s alumni community.

British Airways pilot using MBA to improve air travel

James Boyce completed his MBA while working as a full-time pilot for British Airways (BA) and chose The Open University for its flexibility around his irregular flight schedules. Eager to use his MBA for good, James focused his final project around improving air travel for people with disabilities.

He has since launched Access-air-bility, an organisation whose mission is to improve the accessibility of air travel and credits his MBA for giving him the knowledge and skills to create a successful business proposal.

Your guide to recruitment

In this article, alumnus Josh Smith, who has spent 15 years in the recruitment sector, shares everything an Open University graduate needs to know about succeeding in their job search. 

Whether you're a recent graduate or not, Josh shares some top tips for navigating the recruitment industry, honing your CV and acing your interview.