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MK Business Network

At The Open University Business School we are aiming to widen our contribution to and involvement with the business community through the development of a local Business Network in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.

The Network seeks to create a collaborative group of individuals from the commercial sector and the Business School, who will explore together ways to share expertise, collaborate on research funding and consultancy projects, and identify opportunities for professional education and training.

The benefits for the business community are access to leading research, collaboration and support for government funding initiatives. For information on our next Business Network Breakfast Briefing, please see our event listings.


Business Legitimacy: ‘Staying on the “right” side of public opinion… and how to avoid controversy’

This briefing explained what legitimacy is; why it is important to your business in the short and long-term; and how it can help your business adapt and survive in the future.

2nd November 2016

Vice-Chancellor Q&A

Video highlights from 4th May 2016 Breakfast Briefing, the OU's Vice-Chancellor Peter Horrocks responds to questions from Dr Andrew Lindridge, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the OU Business School - discussing the future of the OU, the importance of our students’ success, and how to operate in an environment of change in turbulent times.

7th June 2016

‘We need to talk about Money’: Breaking down personal finance taboos through online courses

Sharon Collard, Professor of Personal Finance Capability at the OUBS looks at the work being carried out by the True Potential PUFin, to help improve the UK’s personal finance capability through the development of online courses for the general public.

1st March 2016

Making the brand part of the business model

How can organisations use their brands as an instrument that captures and is part of their business model? The Breakfast Briefing, which took place on 26 January 2016, saw Dr Cláudia Simões, Senior Lecturer in Marketing explore the ways brands may be used as an asset to an organisation’s marketing and to the organisation itself.

28th January 2016

Culture & identity in business: negotiating a marketing perspective

Our Breakfast Briefing on 7 July 2015, saw Dr Andrew Lindridge talk about Culture and identity in business and the emergence of China as a key market for many prestigious European brands.

18th May 2015

Using values to motivate your staff

The Breakfast Briefing took place on 6 May 2015 and saw Dr Sarah Williams, OU associate lecturer and principal associate of the Sustainable Business Company explore the role of values in making sense of complex ideas.

6th May 2015

Managing SMEs: research insights and implications for practice

Dr Richard Blundel, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Development, shared insights from The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain. In these video highlights, Richard reports on what SME owners and managers see as the best and worst aspects of owning and/or managing their own business

7th October 2014

Furthering the UK's Financial Know-How

Martin Upton, Director for The True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance at The OU Business School introduces us to the Centre.

6th May 2014

Sport as the Local Economic Game Changer

With the awarding of Milton Keynes as a venue for the 2015 World Cup we explore the challenges now face the UK’s fastest growing sub-region.

13th February 2014

Strategies for Political and Social Arenas

In this fascinating presentation, Professor Thomas Lawton argues that the most successful organisations will align market and non-market strategy to achieve and sustain competitive advantage.

10th December 2013
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Upcoming Events

Apr 9

Student Hub Live: Critical thinking (Advanced)

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 11:00 to 12:00

Online with Student Hub Live

Apr 11

Student Hub Live: Memory and Learning: making the connections

Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 19:00 to 20:00

Online with Student Hub Live

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