ERC/IFB Research Foundation : New Frontiers in Family Business Research Conference

On 2nd March, the ERC team were back at The Shard for the New Frontiers in Family Business Research Conference, our first event held in partnership with the Institute for Family Business Research Foundation. The conference aimed to bring together researchers, policy makers, and family business practitioners to discuss current themes and challenges in the… Read more

Adapting to a “New Normal”

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/2023 Global Report The 2022/2023 Global Report launched today at the Annual conference presents the results of GEM’s 24th research cycle. This adds another round of extensive national surveys to an already substantial GEM database of entrepreneurial results. In 2022, over 170,000 individuals were interviewed across 49 different economies, adding their views… Read more

ERC Steering Group changes

We are pleased to announce the appointment of eight new members to the ERC’s Steering Group. The new members to join the group are: Liz Barclay, the UK’s Small Business Commissioner; Verity Davidge, Make UK; Delma Dwight, Midlands Engine; Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Queens University Belfast; Lee Hopley, UK Finance; Dinah Jackson, NICRE/Rural Design Centre; Richard Jeffery,… Read more

When it comes to innovation ecosystems, is bigger better?

Innovation Centres (ICs) are an under-reported and under-defined institution within the innovation ecosystem. Research by the Enterprise Research Centre and Cork University Business School for the Institute of Physics (IOP) aimed to understand the role played by physics-related ICs in supporting physics-based innovation across the UK and Ireland. The IOP’s reach across both countries provides… Read more

Local social capital, necessity entrepreneurship and levelling up

‘You can’t do business without them’, says an owner of a food shop serving a local migrant community, talking about his social ties with customers who he consults for advice. ‘The competition is tough… It depends if customers trust in you. We have maintained trust in what we do and that’s why customers keep coming’… Read more

The State of Small Business Britain 2022: From Crisis to Crisis

The latest ERC State of Small Business Britain report has been published today. The report is the centre’s annual review of trends affecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK and discusses the findings from research and analysis carried out and/or published by the ERC in 2022 including the results from our second ‘Business… Read more

ERC Research Showcase 2023

The ERC will be holding a Research Showcase event on 26th January at The Shard where we will discuss new and ongoing research on themes including mental health, innovation, rural enterprise and internationalisation. 26th January, WBS at The Shard 12.00 – 4.00 This is an in-person only event and registration is essential.

Call for proposals- Longitudinal Small Business Survey

Proposals are invited by BEIS for secondary analyses of the Longitudinal Small Business Survey. Five awards of £5,000 are available. Applications for funding should be submitted to Jiao Liu at ERC (CentreManager@enterpriseresearch.ac.uk) by 5pm on 16th December 2022.  Successful bids will be announced by 9 January 2023. Funded activity should be completed by end-April 2023. Full… Read more

Jane Galsworthy appointed as new ERC Steering Group Chair

Jane Galsworthy, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Advice, has been appointed as the new independent Chair of the Enterprise Research Centre’s Steering Group. Jane replaces Lucy Armstrong, Chief Executive of The Alchemists, who had Chaired the ERC Steering Group since 2013. Over the last 20 years, Jane has been focused on ensuring that SME policy… Read more

Science + Social Science + Investment = Levelling up

Levelling-up seems destined to remain central to the priorities of the Rishi Sunak government. Last week, addressing the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) conference, ex-Conservative politician Justine Greening, and Charlie Jeffrey (University of York) talked passionately about the convening power of universities in leading strong and impactful local projects. Both also emphasised the… Read more