QMU students deliver winning solutions for social enterprises at Grant to Growth 2026

Grant to Growth, launched as a pilot programme by Mo Yan from QMU's School of Business, in partnership with the University of Glasgow and social enterprise networks in Edinburgh and Glasgow, pairs student teams with social enterprises for an intensive four-week consultancy challenge. Students work collaboratively to develop and pitch strategies that help social enterprises reduce reliance on grant funding and move towards sustainable commercial income.

This year's competition saw four teams from QMU competing alongside eleven teams from the University of Glasgow. QMU students delivered an exceptional performance, with three of the four QMU teams reaching the final five, securing 1st, 3rd and 5th places overall.

The results highlight the strength of QMU's applied values-led business education and its commitment to social innovation. The impact of the students' work has been widely celebrated across the Edinburgh and Glasgow social enterprise networks, with strong social media recognition for the positive contribution made to participating organisations.

Building on the success of the pilot, the Scottish Social Enterprise Network has expressed interest in scaling Grant to Growth across Scotland and potentially beyond, thereby encouraging more student groups to engage with social enterprises in their communities.

For the Queen Margaret Business School, the initiative contributes directly to its emerging social innovation Research Excellence Framework (REF) impact case study, reinforcing the University's reputation for education that combines academic strength with meaningful real-world impact.

We are extremely proud of our students' achievements in this competition which clearly shows the impact of QMU's focus on applied learning. The outcome demonstrations the creativity, professionalism and commitment of the students, as well as their enthusiasm for the development of responsible business practice. The engagement with social enterprise provided the students with outstanding real-world learning opportunities, which has in turn increased their confidence in their own abilities, whilst providing business organisations with a new perspective and ideas for business growth. Thomas Peschken-Holt, Head of Queen Margaret Business School

QMU looks forward to welcoming the students and programme partners back to campus to celebrate their success.

Notes to Editor