Salford Business School achieves Tech Industry Gold accreditation

Following a panel presentation in July, the Business IT programme was immediately granted full accreditation. The Business Management programme was awarded accreditation with conditions, all of which have now been met – making Salford’s Business Management degree the first in the UK to reach this stage of recognition.

Tech Industry Gold is the only employer-led accreditation for tech-related education, governed by a panel of industry leaders from major employers including IBM. It benchmarks courses against high standards for employability, technical skills, and real-world relevance, while also championing inclusion and close collaboration between education and industry.

Dr Maria Kutar, Director of Undergraduate Business, who led the project, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the first Business Management programme in the UK to achieve this level of recognition. It’s a testament to the strength of our curriculum and how we prepare students for the changing demands of industry.”

Students enrolled on these accredited courses will receive a Tech Industry Gold digital credential: a verifiable badge that can be added to LinkedIn or CVs to showcase their industry-valued skills. The accreditation also brings enhanced opportunities for employer-led enrichment, from live projects and guest lectures to networking with leading employers, all of which are designed to boost students’ career readiness.

Liz Larner, Deputy Dean of Salford Business School, added: “This achievement aligns perfectly with our school strategy. Most importantly, it has the potential to make a real difference to student outcomes. I’m looking forward to seeing how we evaluate its impact on both the student experience and the benefits for our academic and employability teams.”

Lorna Willis, CEO of TechSkills, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome the University of Salford to the Tech Industry Gold community with two accredited programmes. Achieving Tech Industry Gold status is a prestigious milestone, earned through a rigorous, employer-led process that demands excellence across the board.

“The University of Salford were a delight to work with throughout the entire accreditation journey, collaborative, forward-thinking, and deeply committed to enriching their learner experience. We’re excited to continue partnering with them, leveraging the power of our employer network to drive real-world impact and help their learners thrive in the tech-driven business landscape.”

Looking ahead, the school will continue working with TechSkills and its employer network to embed further enrichment into the student journey, including induction activities, guest speakers, industry events, and real-world projects. This recognition reflects Salford Business School’s commitment to building future-facing programmes that blend business, technology, and professional skills, equipping students with the tools to thrive in a fast-moving digital world.