Entrepreneurship

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of global economies, making up over 95% of businesses and providing more than half of all employment. Yet, despite their critical importance, SMEs continue to face major hurdles: low productivity, weak governance, and limited access to finance remain persistent challenges, even in advanced markets like the UK. We believe that entrepreneurship and innovation are key to unlocking the full potential of SMEs. Our research explores how to remove development barriers, boost sustainable growth, and ensure SMEs play a leading role in the green transition.

We focus on four key themes:

• Entrepreneurship, SMEs, and ESGs: Helping SMEs embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into their business models.
• Entrepreneurship, Inclusivity, and Well-being: Investigating how entrepreneurship drives economic inclusion, social mobility, and mental health, particularly for underrepresented groups.
• SME Growth Strategies and Crisis Resilience: Understanding how SMEs adapt to economic shocks through innovation, digitalisation, and financial resilience.
• SME De- and Re-Internationalisation: Exploring how SMEs navigate international markets, enhancing global competitiveness.

Through cutting-edge research, actionable insights, and collaboration with policymakers and businesses, we aim to create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable SME sector — one that thrives in a rapidly changing world.

Leads: Dr Francis Donbesuur and Dr Ash Sadeghi

View Dr Donbesuur's profile   View Dr Sadeghi's profile