Aston Business School (ABS) is one of the largest business schools in Europe. Part of Aston University, ABS is situated in the centre of Birmingham, England. It is among only 58 institutions worldwide (i.e. less than 1% of business schools globally) to be granted triple accreditation. The school was ranked 8th in the UK and 33rd in the world by QS in 2012. ABS was the first UK business school to be awarded the prestigious EQUIS accreditation, in 1999. ABS is the first institution in the UK to be allied with Beta Gamma Sigma by establishing a BGS Collegiate Chapter. ABS is one of only three business schools in the UK to be awarded a Small Business Charter Gold Award for its role in helping to support enterprise.