Sheffield University Management School

In order to survive and thrive, organisations are facing increasing pressures to continuously innovate, but how do you keep coming up with truly creative ideas? How do you choose which ideas to take forward? What levers ensure successful realisation of new products, services, processes, or initiatives?

If you’re a leader or manager from the third sector or an SME in the private sector in South Yorkshire, we'd love to invite you to a workshop, funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority that will equip you with the powerful CLEAR IDEAS framework. It will enable you to both generate and implement innovative solutions creatively.

Join us at Sheffield Theatres on 5 December for a highly interactive and practical full day workshop, facilitated by Professor Kamal Birdi.
Book your tickets now for just £25: https://onlineshop.shef.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/faculty-of-social-sciences/management-school/clear-ideas-creativity-innovation-skills-training-workshop

It was great to see so many people at this year's Placement Returners event! This annual event is a fantastic opportunity for all of our students who have been away from the Management School for a year on a placement to reconnect with each other and the School. It also gives an opportunity for students at all levels to build their networks and hear from students returning from placements about what it's like to work at a wide variety of potential future employers.

We're delighted to have been awarded EQUIS re-accreditation for a further five years, recognising our world leading excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange. This accreditation is an indicator of high quality in all aspects of a school’s activities with particular focus on internationalisation, academic quality, ethics, responsibility and sustainability, and effective interaction with the business world.

Professor Fraser McLeay, Dean of the Management School, said "This is a proud milestone for our Management School. Being awarded prestigious EQUIS accreditation for five years is a testament to the incredible hard work of our community - from dedicated academics, to our supportive staff, brilliant students and valued alumni."

Read more about our re-accreditation: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/university-sheffields-management-school-equis-re-accreditation-places-it-amongst-global-elite

Do you live in or near Taipei? Are you considering studying an MBA?

Come and meet Professor Paul McGuinness, Chair in Accounting and MBA International Study Trip Lead, at the QS Quacquarelli Symonds Discover MBA Fair. The Fair will take place on 31 October at Le Meridien Taipei.

Slots are limited so book your place now: https://info.topmba.com/events/taipei-0

Last night we held our MBA Welcome and Alumni Event at the magnificent Cutler's Hall.

The event was a great success, allowing students to connect with MBA alumni and academic staff over drinks and a delicious selection of canapés.

Building lasting relationships is central to the Sheffield MBA experience, it was wonderful to see our MBA students embody this spirit.

A special thank you to Dean of the Management School Professor Fraser McLeay and MBA Programme Director Dr Sabrina Thornton for their warm welcome and insightful words, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.

Here’s to new connections and shared success!

Workshop invitation: Understanding autism in the workplace

Are you interested in enhancing workplace inclusivity through neurodiversity?

Join Dr Laura Dean, the President- Elect of the British Psychological Society for an immersive workshop to help employers and HR professionals better understand the experience of autistic employees.

You'll gain firsthand insight into the sensory challenges many autistic individuals face, explore their unique strengths and learn practical strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

Register by the 3rd of November here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-autism-in-the-workplace-tickets-1030086515497?aff=oddtdtcreator

We're delighted to be in the world top 100 of Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025!

We’re in the world top 100 of the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025!

The University is 12th in the UK and 98th in the world, rising seven places globally from last year’s position. Congratulations, Sheffield! We’re so proud of our university community 👏

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/university-sheffield-ranks-top-100-times-higher-education-world-university-rankings-2025

Business breakfast invitation - Toast and transformation: Supporting digital change

Do you play a part in managing digital change or the implementation of new technologies in your organisation?

Digital Change is usually associated with solutions for improving customer experience, fostering employee innovation and spurring company growth and sustainability. However, implementing digital change can be challenging if organisations neglect the people, cultural and organisational impacts.

Join the Institute of Work Psychology Team for a thought-provoking business breakfast as they explore a people-centred digital change approach. This is part of the Festival for Social Science, open to professionals from any sector.

You will gain:

- Practical tools and strategies by unlocking the Digital Change Toolkit
- Actionable insights as experts share their digital change knowledge and experiences related to digital change
- Networking opportunities as you connect with peers and academics.

A continental breakfast will be provided.

Please register by the 4th of November here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/toast-and-transformation-supporting-digital-change-tickets-1021448368567?aff=oddtdtcreator

Last Friday, our MBA students enjoyed their team building day in the Peak District which involved evading hunters in the morning, and battling in a series of game shows in the afternoon. This is part of the Flying Start Welcome Week for our MBA cohort.

The Sheffield MBA embraces the power of togetherness through building strong, trusting relationships to drive collaborative, shared success. Our MBA team building day promises to help our students connect, build relationships and hone teamwork skills in a series of challenging, fun activities!

We can’t thank Pendragon Project enough for hosting such a brilliant immersive experience.

Last week Dr Panayiota Julie Alevizou, Lecturer in Marketing and Programme Director for MSc Marketing Management Practice, took part in a panel discussion at the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) conference.

This year's conference, 'Charting a Greener Horizon: Navigating Towards Sustainable Public Finances', marked an ongoing partnership between CEF and CIPFA. The conference was the kick off event for the project 'Greening Human Capital of Public Institutions in the Western Balkans', supported by the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy.

The panel that Julie contributed to was focused on sustainability communications, particularly in relation to the future of ESG reporting and its implications for the public sector. Considering the question 'What insights can the accounting profession learn from marketing in terms of improving the communication of financial information?', Julie emphasised the significance of an audience-centred approach that prioritises ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, value co-creation and collaboration.

This September we are delighted to have hosted both the Finance and Society Network Conference and a workshop in collaboration with the Young Scholars Initiative

Check out our news story on these events here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/news/management-school-hosts-global-discussions-during-annual-fsn-conference-and-workshop-collaboration

New research from Dr Matt Burke, Lecturer in Finance, and colleagues at University of Oxford shows how physical climate risks can be integrated in sovereign credit ratings.

The research was recently covered in Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-24/bond-investors-urged-to-update-models-for-risk-that-ratings-miss

Read the full paper online for free: https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/node/1342

Yesterday we were pleased to welcome Tom Graham, Founding Director and Chief Inspiration Officer of MAD (Make A Difference) Courses, to deliver a workshop on Storytelling to our MBA students as part of their Flying Start Welcome Week.

The full day workshop helped the new cohort to develop their presentation and pitching skills - skills which will be essential throughout their MBA studies and in their future careers. The MBA students had the opportunity to hear from social entrepreneurs from across the world, enhancing their global perspective and empathy, whilst gaining a great sense of self-awareness connecting their personal motivations with their professional goals.

Last week, Professor Jason Heyes, Associate Dean for Impact and Engagement and Academic Forum Lead, had the great opportunity to contribute to an interesting, discussion-filled Yorkshire, Humber and North East Productivity Forum meeting in York.

Overseen by The Productivity Institute, the Forum is one of eight regional Forums across the UK that aim, through research and collaboration between academics, policymakers and business leaders, to find tangible solutions to increase business productivity.

Jason provided Forum members with an overview of the importance of and the role that Knowledge Transfer Partnerships can play in driving innovation and productivity.

Other contributions at the meeting came from Paul Mount (Deputy Agent for Yorkshire and Humber at the Bank of England), Bethany Carter Ottens (Assistant Director at Local Authority Advisory & Lending from the UK Infrastructure Bank) and Professor Louise Kempton (Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University), alongside Sarah Tulip (Director at Conquer Technology) who chaired the event.

Dr Redouane Sarrakh was also welcomed on board by the Forum members. Redouane joined the Management School earlier this week. He is the Forum's new Research Associate will be taking their research work forward.

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Professor Karina Nielsen passed away yesterday.

Karina's expertise in work psychology is globally recognised and she was a valued colleague and mentor. She will be greatly missed both within the Management School and more widely.

All of our thoughts are with Karina and her friends and family at this time.

The Management School wishes a warm welcome to our new and returning students!🥳

We’re running a range of Balance and Belonging events this welcome week with lots of opportunities to meet with other students and support staff at the Management School.

See our pinned post for more information.

We're excited to announce the launch of the new Digital Change Toolkit, developed by Carolyn Axtell, Karina Nielsen, Hui Zhang and Vladislav Grozev (all members of Institute of Work Psychology).

The Digital Change Toolkit is a freely available online resource. It has been developed to help organisations prepare, design, and evaluate the people and organisational aspects of digital change.

The Toolkit has been developed as part of a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Made Smarter Innovation [EP/V061798/1].

Read more about the Toolkit and access the resource: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/news/members-institute-work-psychology-launch-digital-change-toolkit

This academic year, we're establishing a ‘buddy’ system at the Management School. Final year undergraduate students will be linked up with incoming postgraduate students to help them settle into the Management School and Sheffield, enabling them to make the most of their one year with us.

This is a great opportunity to develop the Sheffield Graduate Attributes and gain skills and experience that will be useful for line management roles in the future. It will also give you the opportunity to meet people from different cultural backgrounds.

If you're a final year undergraduate student and would be interested in taking part in the new 0 to 60 Buddying Scheme, please complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUKgw7TlkIHAaYpUvVnpFC7g4JSclN6YZG8oAka3eY-byT1A/viewform

In their latest publication titled Net-zero life cycle supply chain assessment of heat pump technologies, Professor Lenny Koh and Moein Shamoushaki develop a range of supply chain scenarios based on the UK heat pump market. They analyse the UK's net-zero plan and the impact it could have on heat pump's environmental impact reduction.

Read the paper for free: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224028998?via%3Dihub

Dr Edward Yates is looking for participants for his research project 'The transitions of young workers in the UK labour market: Consequences for careers, earnings, health and wellbeing'.

If you or someone from your organisation would be willing to be interviewed about how you recruit, train and manage young people for about 45 minutes online, please get in touch with Edward via email at [email protected] or phone at 07581 403 261.

Edward is particularly keen to speak to Managing Directors/CEOs, Operations Managers and/or HR managers, or anyone with responsibility for recruiting and managing young people.

Book now for our next Sheffield Alumni in London Network event!

We will be hosting a panel discussion on ‘The Impact of AI on the workplace’ in collaboration with the School of Law, University of Sheffield and The University of Sheffield-Department of Economics . Alumni of SUMS, the School of Law and the Department of Economics are warmly invited.

Reserve your spot now:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sheffield-alumni-in-london-network-2024-tickets-976054704897?aff=oddtdtcreator

We're looking for a new Research Associate to support The Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub for a Sustainable Future, led by Professor Lenny Koh

The Research Associate will assist in undertaking life cycle assessment, examine the manufacturing supply chain, and investigate the environmental sustainability and resiliency of compound semiconductor manufacturing.

Read the job description and apply now: https://lnkd.in/e4GM8q7X

Applications close 18th of September 2024

Congratulations to Stephen Knott who has been nominated for the Chartered Management Institute's Student of the Year Award!

Stephen completed the Senior Leader Apprenticeship Executive Education MBA at the Management School. He earned CMI accreditation to enhance his leadership skills and impact. His growth through the programme, thanks to the input and inspiration of our world-leading academics, led to the publication of an academic paper and the co-development of a course focused on environmental sustainability in third sector.

Stephen said, "This award will highlight my achievements within the programme, which will naturally bring benefits due to the reputation of the CMI name and the trust it brings."

Read more about the award and Stephen's achievements: https://www.managers.org.uk/community/awards/student-of-the-year/

We're delighted to share that Dr Callum Ward, Lecturer in Valuation and Governance, has been appointed as one of Finance and Space's Early Career & Digital Media Editors.

Read more about Finance and Space and the work that Callum will be doing in this role: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/news/dr-callum-ward-appointed-early-career-digital-media-editor-finance-and-space-journal