Business School

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in the UK for Teaching Quality

Times and The Sunday Times UK University Rankings 2026

in the UK for 'Satisfied with Feedback' in Business and Management

The Guardian University Guide 2025

Top 10 for Teaching, Learning Opportunities, Academic Support, and Student Voice

National Student Survey 2025*

We are the place to do business. At Staffordshire Business School, you’ll develop the skills, confidence and real-world experience to set you apart from the competition.

Business is about people. Ideas. Action.

From live industry briefs and business simulations to employer-led projects, you’ll learn by doing from day one. You’ll join a community built on collaboration, curiosity and real-world impact.

Whether you’re drawn to marketing, finance, events, entrepreneurship or management, there’s space here to explore, experiment and grow.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need the confidence to give it a go. By the time you graduate, you won’t just understand business - you’ll have practised it.

Courses

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Why study with us?

Feed your curiosity, collaborate on projects and make a real impact...

Learn by doing

Expect simulations, live client briefs, business games and employer-led projects. This is an action-not-lectures mindset.

A community that backs you

You’re not just joining a course – you’re joining a culture built around belonging. Through inclusive teaching, student partnerships, mentoring and shared experiences, you’ll develop the confidence to succeed.

Connected to industry

Gain professional accreditations, including CMI, ACCA and CIM. Partnerships with organisations such as Alton Towers Resort, Bentley, bet365 and Disney. With placements, internships and guest speakers built into your journey.

Spaces that spark ideas

Our AI hub, VR and AR learning experiences, and the Playful Business Lab, give you room to experiment. Prototype ideas. Test strategies. Turn concepts into action.

Find your path

Not sure which path suits you yet? Explore our ‘business adventure paths; and discover the route that fits your strengths, interests and ambitions.

Digital Marketing and AI Hub

Work alongside real businesses in a space built for digital innovation.

Each week, SMEs join us to network, collaborate and set live challenges for our marketing and business students. You’ll explore emerging trends, hear from guest speakers and apply AI tools in real-world contexts.

Business Simulations

Step into the decision-maker’s seat.

Through immersive simulations, you’ll run a company and take responsibility for strategy, finance, marketing, operations or HR. Test ideas. Respond to challenges. See the impact of your decisions in real time.

Playful Business Hub

This is where confidence grows. Through team challenges, business games and creative rituals, you’ll build trust, strategic thinking and collaboration skills. Create your own PLAYMOBIL Pro character as part of your leadership journey, or prototype ideas using 3D printing in our innovation zone.

It’s hands-on. It’s energetic. And it’s designed to help you find your voice.

Careers and connections

Become the business professional you were meant to be. On your course, you’ll develop a foundation of knowledge across aspects of modern business. We will also introduce you to live projects, industry collaborations and professional networks, so you’re fully prepared for your future career.

Industry links

You will forge the connections to kick-start your career, with access to industry professionals, expert academics and guest lecturers. You'll also gain the skills you need to join our successful graduates who are breaking boundaries in industry.

Getting you career-ready

  • Choose to spend up to a year on a paid work placement in the UK or overseas. It's a great way to gain real-world experience and to build your employability profile
  • Attend inspirational guest lectures that provide invaluable insights into industry
  • Visit careers fairs, networking events and exhibitions for a unique chance to connect with a variety of industry players before you graduate
  • Take part in live projects with local and national organisations to gain insights into real-work practices and expectations, as well as building a network of contacts for the future
  • Our business and finance courses are dual-accredited by the CMI, so you will automatically receive the CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership professional qualification in addition to your degree

Work placements

You'll be offered the opportunity to undertake a work placement in the UK or overseas alongside your course. These can range from a few weeks to an academic year, and you'll have dedicated support before and during your placement.

Students can also study with our partner organisations across the world and in some cases students can get funded placements and work experience across Europe.

I love the place. It's about the people, who are so friendly. If I put myself in an international student's shoes, I would find a place where I feel welcome.
Joe Hazzam

Associate Professor for Digital Marketing

Our students

There are so many places I could access support and they were so friendly.

My experience as a mature student has been really excellent, so many good things happened. I came in with my confidence quite low and didn’t know whether I could cut it academically, it’s been a long time since I’ve done any studying. But that’s when the support really comes in, there are so many places I could access support and they were so friendly. It’s like a family, you’re not a number.

Anthony Fisher

Business student

What makes Staffordshire University stand out is definitely the support from the lecturers.

What makes Staffordshire University stand out is definitely the support from the lecturers, the knowledge that they bring to the modules is incredible, no question is stupid and they’re really supportive. They encourage you to participate and to challenge their thinking and their thought processes as well and if you’re struggling they can help.

Kathryn Bowden

Staffordshire Business School Student

You learn so much throughout your time at Staffs.

Staffordshire University offers such a fantastic range of modules that are both engaging and fulfilling. I knew this course would be right for me, it didn’t limit my career path options – you learn so much throughout your time at Staffs, it can take you to so many places. 

James Richardson

Business Management

Our Business Management degree gave cousins Ben and Michael Dyer everything they were hoping for, from approachable, experienced lecturers, to accessing a huge network of businesses in the wider community.

Their business, The National Enterprise Challenge, launched in 2012 and now employs 10 staff. They've worked with Theo Paphitis (pictured) and Lord Sugar, and have recently won the Social Entrepreneurs of the Year award.

Ben & Michael Dyer

Business Management graduates

Features

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Which Business Path Fits You?

You don’t need to have it all figured out. But you might already know what excites you. Discover which Staffordshire Business School course fits your interests, strengths and future goals.

Visitor Attraction Student Shares Business Success on BBC Radio Stoke

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management student Brad Charlton-Wells shares how he’s growing BrickLab Academy alongside his studies on BBC Radio Stoke.

Events Management students create live hybrid event for International Women's Day

In celebration of International Women's Day and for their final year project, a group of Events Management students created a hybrid live event to celebrate the achievements of women around the world.

Ask the expert: What you should look for when choosing a university to study Business?

Discover what to look for in a Business degree, including teaching quality, employability, real-world experience, industry links, and expert academics.

Students gain strategic insight from Alton Towers' General Manager.

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management students attended Francis Jackson’s final strategy presentation to learn more about the strategic positioning of Alton Towers Resort.

Creating a visitor attraction concept

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management students presented their own visitor attraction concepts to members of the leadership team at Alton Towers Resort as part of their Business Development module.

Laura Allen

Entrepreneurship for the Creative and Cultural Industries

Laura is our Social Media Officer, who manages all our social channels. Her passion for her job, and Stoke-on-Trent, won her a Proud to be Staffs Award.

Read full story

Projects

From presenting your first group project through to tackling a finance challenge, organising an event or brewing ideas in our creative spaces, it’s about immersing you in hands-on learning.

You could be marketing your skills to real companies. Working with entrepreneurs in residence. Running simulated business operations. Or even launching your own student venture.

Facilities

Climbing the corporate ladder or making waves on your own as an entrepreneurial success story? Don’t worry, at Staffordshire University your new home will be our £40m Catalyst building, full of the digital tech, conferencing and boardroom facilities to make your student experience as close to real-world business as possible.

The Catalyst Building

Our brand new teaching development, the Catalyst, combines new technology with dynamic learning spaces, emulating real-world working environments and opportunities for digital engagement.

Catalyst will be a hive of activity for all things teaching, learning, meeting and studying. It provides world-class services and settings to support students through their education and towards their employment while offering flexible, high quality, digitally-enabled spaces.

The Catalyst

The building will combine business, networking and apprenticeship opportunities with dynamic teaching spaces and state-of-the-art digital facilities – the perfect launchpad for you future career. Read more

The Catalyst brings together the delivery of apprenticeships and skills, in a flexible, high-quality, digitally enabled space. It offers open, social and flexible learning spaces, emulating real world working environments and opportunities for digital engagement. The Catalyst is a unified building, bringing together social, study, teaching and support functions, where students can browse digital and physical resources, including books and a number of special collections. 
Watch video

Think Tank

Business is not all about rushing around, mindfulness and thinking time is important to innovation. Use our Think Tank to come up with the next big thing – designed for entrepreneurs of the future.

Transition Room

A space dedicated to you. The room has all the tech you need to work in groups on assignments, project plan and talk through your ideas.

Collaboratory

A cleverly designed room to allow you to work together in teams, communication is key in business and this space allows you to practice team dynamics in a safe space.

Expertise

Carol Southall

Head Of Department - Business

Carol is a member of the ERRIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network) Tourism Working Group in Brussels. Taught in Switzerland, Finland and Croatia. Research interests include the relationship between cultural awareness and visitor s…

Carol's profile

Karl Mccormack

Senior Lecturer

Karl has experience teaching on Apprenticeship and Foundation Degrees, BA accounting programmes, MBA modules. He has also taught as a subject specialist in forensic accounting, computerised accounting and management accounting.

Karl's profile

Dr Mayowa Akinbote

Senior Lecturer

Mayowa, a Chartered Accountant with 17+ years of experience in public and private sectors, holds an ACCA Fellowship and a PhD in Finance. He brings extensive expertise and is particularly interested in financial markets and investor behavior.

Mayowa's profile

Victoria Gilbert

Lecturer

Vicky has worked at Staffordshire University for several years delivering Business Management. This is following experience of working within the Private and Public Sector and running a family business.

Victoria's profile

Dr Mohammad Wasim

Senior Lecturer

Ali has industry experience in roles such as product management, brand management and operations. He joined Staffordshire University in 2017 after completing his PhD in Management. He is Deputy Award Leader for Undergraduate Business Management.

Mohammad's profile

Craig Holdcroft

Lecturer In Business

Craig is a lecturer in Business Management and Digital Marketing and has industry experience in both sales management and digital marketing. He has been lecturing and sharing knowledge of industry working and digital practices across all levels.

Craig's profile

Amanda Payne

Senior Lecturer

Amanda is an active researcher and Course Leader for the FdA Visitor Attraction and Resort Management. She is working towards A PhD and is currently researching poverty alleviation through art and cultural tourism in Cambodia.

Amanda's profile

Tonia Barrett

Lecturer in Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

I have taught on every year group of the visitor attraction and resort management program. My main roles are within teaching and learning, as well as supporting students with the placement module and their employment at Alton Towers Resort.

Tonia's profile

Dr Ahmad Mlouk

Senior Lecturer

At Staffordshire Business School, Dr Mlouk has taught a wide range of subjects/modules at undergraduate, Postgraduate and professional levels. These modules included: Business Finance, Corporate Governance, Corporate Finance, International Corpo…

Ahmad's profile

Bharati Singh

Course Director

Bharati is the Course Leader for the MBA and undergraduate Business Management and Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship courses. She teaches across the undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes within the Business School.

Bharati's profile

Dr Syed Zaidi

Senior Lecturer

Syed is the Award Leader for BA (Hons) Finance and Business Enterprise. He teaches across undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes and also supervises postgraduate taught and research students.

Syed's profile

Kathryn Mitchell

Senior Lecturer

Lecturer in Digital Marketing, specialising in developing strategy in changing and disruptive environments, assessing occupational competency and using technology to increase operational efficiency. Kathryn joined Staffordshire University in 2019.

Kathryn's profile
for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021