Entrepreneurship

Theme Coordinators:

• Professor Helen Lawton Smith 
• Dr Marion Frenz 
• Dr Federica Rossi 
• Ms Jacqueline Winstanley 
• Dr Jonathan Potter

ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH AT CIMR 

Entrepreneurship is a vital force behind economic growth, societal change, and innovation. At our Research Centre, we delve into the dynamic and transformative realm of entrepreneurship, exploring its capacity to drive inclusivity, enhance financial ecosystems, and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Our research is guided by a commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial landscape that is equitable, innovative, and sustainable.

Our research work within the Entrepreneurship fields spans a diverse array of domains, including:

• Inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation
• Entrepreneurial finance
• Entrepreneurship and SMEs

By examining the interplay between policy, practice, and entrepreneurial activity, we aim to uncover strategies that enable individuals and organisations to thrive in a competitive and ever-evolving world.

Our Centre serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue, hosting events, workshops, and debates that bring together experts, practitioners, and policymakers. Through impactful research publications and collaborative engagements, we provide valuable insights into building inclusive innovation systems, refining policy evaluation, and supporting diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Join us in shaping a future where entrepreneurship acts as a catalyst for opportunity, resilience, and positive transformation.

Below you can find more information about our Entrepreneurship research, including our recent publications, events and workshop in this field.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS WITHIN ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH

• Winstanley, J and Lawton Smith, H (2025) Written evidence to Welsh Parliament Equality and Social Justice Committee Anything’s Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap March 2025 (reference DE 31). 

• Lawton Smith, H. and Mansour, D. (2022) Addressing regional inequalities in innovation opportunities for ethnically diverse and disabled entrepreneurs. Project Report. CIMR, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.

• Vorley, T, Lawton Smith H Coogan, T, Owalla, B and Wing, K (2020) Supporting Diversity and Inclusion, Policy Brief, Innovate UK Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in Innovation report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Lawton Smith, H., Winstanley, J., et al. 2023 The Road to Wonder. A study exploring the barriers and opportunities to creating innovation and enterprise by disabled people: a summary. Oxford, UK: Innovation Caucus.

RECENT EVENTS and Workshops WITHIN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• How to Strengthen Entrepreneurship Policy Evaluation? Getting more reliable evaluations and learning from evaluations (4 December 2024 ) - Chair: Dr. Federica Rossi, Associate Professor of Economic Policy, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia and Deputy Director, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research; Speakers: Dr Jonathan Potter, OECD; Shannen Enright, Assistant Principal, Data and Evaluation Unit, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ireland; Prof. Marc Cowling, Professor of Economics and Productivity, Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford Brookes University, UK. Link to YouTube Video
• Building Inclusive Innovation Systems (2 October 2024) - In collaboration with the Enterprise Research Centre (UK) and Innovation & Research Caucus. The idea arose from conversations between Stephen Roper (Warwick University), ERC and IRC and Prof Tim Vorley OBE (Oxford Brookes and IRC), about how best to foster a dialogue between researchers in both organisations. Event Blog Link
• ’The Missing Link’ – Models in moving D&I Policy into Sustainable Working Practice within Entrepreneurial ecosystems (20 March 2024) - Panelists: Helene Martin Gee – Savvitas Women in Enterprise; Penny Roberts – Co Founder BankAbility Ltd; Anna Roughley – Head of Insight – Lending Standards Board – Banking and Financial Services; Co-chairs: Jacqueline Winstanley (Universal Inclusion), Jonathan Potter (OECD). Event Blog Link
• Where next for Global Inclusive Entrepreneurship?(15 November 2023) Chair: Jacqueline Winstanley (Universal Inclusion) Speakers: Dr Jonathan Potter (OECD); Rachel Parker (Frangipan Bakery); Sassy Wyatt (Blind Girl Adventures); Sara McKee (Life Full Colour); Dr Shani Dhanda (Entrepreneur & Disability specialist). Link to YouTube Video
• Accelerating inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship & financing to support minority SME businesses(27 June 2023) - Panel: Monder Ram OBE, Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME); Eugene Nizeyimana, CEO of SSCG Consulting and CEO African Business Chamber (AfBC); Emma Obanye, Managing Director for OneTech; Fiona Morrill, British Business Bank; Discussant: Professor Colette Henry, Head of the Department of Business Studies at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Business Strategy & Innovation at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.; Chair: Jacqueline Winstanley FRSA Universal Inclusion, The Inclusive Entrepreneur Network, Visiting Fellow of CIMR, Birkbeck University of London. Link to YouTube Video

pARTNER RESEARCH Institutes AND Universities WITHIN ENTREPRENEURSHIP research

• OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) 
• Enterprise Research Centre (UK)
• Innovation & Research Caucus
• Universal Inclusion
• Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME), Aston University
• Kogod School of Business, American University
• University of Vaasa
• UIC Barcelona’s Quality & Innovation for Service Excellence (QISE)
• Centre for Innovation Research, Lund University
• Warwick University
• Oxford Brookes University