The University of Chester's business school (CBS) was crowned Business School of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards on Thursday 28 November. 

As the 'Oscars of higher education', hosted by Miles Jupp, THE awards celebrated its 20th birthday at the ICC in Birmingham. 

CBS earned the top award for bolstering the north-west of England by helping to support a high-growth, low-carbon economy and nurturing future talent for the NHS.

It participated in three major industrial projects seeking to reshape Cheshire's manufacturing economy, which produces more than a quarter of the total carbon output in the north west, and supports 73,000 jobs.

CBS also designed and manages the UK's definitive healthcare practice placement tool. 

Funded by Health Education England, the tool has engaged more than 90,000 university users in 2022-23: a record high, as well as more than 160,000 NHS and healthcare professionals.  

Throughout the year, CBS completed the delivery of funded projects with small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worth £34.7 million, supporting 1,632 SMEs, 62 budding entrepreneurs and 131 pre-start-up businesses. 

This helped create more than 900 projects for students.  

Additionally, the University of Chester's Library team was named as finalists in the Outstanding Library Team of the Year category among impressive competition. 

Supporting the University's strategy to enhance the student experience, the Library team collaborated with students through the University's 'students as partners' initiative to create a decolonising and diversifying toolkit for reading lists. 

Professor Kurt Allman, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise, said: "I'm delighted that Chester Business School has been recognised by the THE for its outstanding contribution to the NHS's workforce development, a Net Zero and low carbon industrial cluster within the UK's north west, and our commitment to providing an outstanding learning environment to our growing global student community. 

 "The School's contribution to these agendas has been forged through a compelling vision for our region, and tremendous teamwork both within the University and with organisations that make Cheshire their home." 

 Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, Dean of CBS, added: "I am so proud of the School and my committed colleagues and exceptional students.

"We continue to work hard to position ourselves as a catalyst for progress in everything we do; through our courses and with our communities, preparing our students for a future in sustainable and responsible business." 

 John Gill, THE editor, said: "This anniversary year brought another record number of submissions detailing, as ever, a dazzling array of achievements from institutions, teams and individuals, and demonstrating that even though times are tough, the creativity and energy in UK and Irish universities remains undiminished.  

 "It is a privilege for THE to have the role it does in celebrating the sector's successes, and on the occasion of our 20th anniversary we thank everyone who entered, and look forward to championing you for years to come."