Lord Alliance donation prompts MBS name change
MANCHESTER textiles and home shopping magnate Lord Alliance has donated £15m to Manchester Business School which has recognised the gift by changing its name.
The institution will be called the Alliance Manchester Business School from next September, a move also inspired by a long-standing relationship between the entrepreneur and the school.
The money will be go towards research and a £50m revamp of the business school.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Alliance is a major shareholder in the listed clothing retailer N Brown which owns brands such as Jacamo, JD Williams and Simply Be.
In a statement he said: “Over many years I have followed with growing admiration and pride the development of Manchester as a world-class centre for business education and I am delighted to support the next major stage in its growth and development. Twenty years ago I instigated the bringing together of separate disciplines to create the Federal School of Management, the pre-cursor to MBS as it is today, of which I am very proud.
“Manchester as a city has done so much for me and this is my opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the next generation of managers and entrepreneurs who will come to our superb business school to develop their leadership skills and contribute to the prosperity of our society in the future.”
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This announcement marks the culmination of decades of engagement and supportive partnership with Lord Alliance. Today we honour with tremendous gratitude his long-held vision for the potential for a world-class business school to help power the economic development of the city and region.
“We are deeply proud to associate his name with MBS on campus and across its six global centres. The timing is perfect as the School embarks on its next 50 years, bolstered by a visionary new building for the School, which Lord Alliance and his Trustees are helping to make possible.”
The improvement works at the school involve the construction of a new, external hotel and conference centre, replacing the one currently within the business school building.
A new executive education centre will also be built, while new teaching and administrative space will also be delivered.
