Small Firms and Local Economic Networks: The Death of the Local Economy?

This book examines the relationships between small businesses, large businesses and their local economies. The wide-ranging examination is based on data collected from over 400 businesses

in seven contrasting localities in the United Kingdom. All the owner-managers and large organization representatives were interviewed face-to-face and background data was collected from numerous other individuals and sources.

The authors′ findings have profound implications for theory and policy. They question the applicability of models of the changing economy such as ′industrial districts′ idealized in much of the recent literature. The results also have implications for those agencies based on the locality attempting to reach small businesses as well as government policies attempting economic development.

Expertise

All aspects of small business and entrepreneurship; small business management; employment; growth; innovation; IP management; environmental practices; business exit; regional and international dimensions; public policy initiatives and evaluations.Reviewer for book publishers (eg. Sage), research councils (ESRC; Leverhulme; Nuffield) and journals.
Research Interest(s)

Extensive research portfolio for academic (eg ESRC), private (eg HSBC) and public (eg HM Treasury; EU Commission) organisations. Expertise in primary and secondary data collection and analyses; engaged in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Editor of International Small Business Journal
Teaching

Engaged in postgraduate teaching programmes linked to entrepreneurship and small business; supervision and examination experience at masters and doctorate levels.
Memberships

Member of RAE2008 and REF2014 Business and Management sub-panel Member of ACCA Small Firms Committee Member of Association of Business Schools Research Committee Member of Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Member of the British Academy of Management Member of Academicians of the Academy of Social Science; Holder of the Queen′s Award for Enterprise Promotion