Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research (SBER) Group

The group aims to bridge the theory-practice gap in order to create a positive impact on businesses, society and the economy.

The group conducts research to identify and address the needs of micro, small, medium and entrepreneurial firms. We focus on capacity building of businesses to enhance the social and economic development at the local, regional, national and international levels.

We are a group of highly skilled and experienced scholars with a broad range of knowledge, industry experience and strong links to industry and professional bodies.

Our Expertise

The group conducts research into the following core areas:

• Entrepreneurship and business failure
• Investigating the causes and factors that lead to enterprise and business failure.
• Entrepreneurship and Identity
• Exploring how social, cultural, political and economic identities shape entrepreneurship in the city/region, UK and globally.

• Small business management and growth
• Examining management and strategy challenges faced by smaller businesses and how they can be addressed to enhance survival and growth.

Our activities

To achieve our aim we embark on the following activities:

• Organise seminars to tap into the knowledge and expertise of experienced visiting research fellows to enhance research activities of members and postgraduate students.
• Build collaborations with entrepreneurs and industry experts to enhance research activities of members and postgraduate students.
• Work closely with the Centre for Entrepreneurship located at the School of Engineering to enhance entrepreneurship education and research.
• Collaborate with businesses to enhance capacity building for social and economic development.

Currently members of the Group are working on a number of research projects that have local, regional, national and international focus.

Some of the projects are:

• Liverpool, Music City - a placemaking approach to cultural policy
• Competitive dynamics of entrepreneurial family firms in North-West region
• Investigating the sustainability of the UK Coffee Shops and Cafés;
• Accessing capital for social enterprise led renewable energy
• A Systematic Multidisciplinary Review of Crowdfunding for Entrepreneurs
• Institutions, Trust and Managing Entrepreneurial Relationships in Africa
• Strategic Management and Growth of Medium Size Enterprises (MSEs) in Africa
• Trust in Trade Credit Relationships in Africa

Our Publications

Search publications from the academics within this research group

Our people

Associate members and visiting fellows 

Prof Kim Lehman
Kim is a visiting Professor from University of Tasmania. Prior to taking up a full time academic position, Kim had an extensive career in the tertiary education sector. He has worked as a consultant on various marketing communication, Web content and design, and print media projects. Kim is also a writer, curator and visual artist.

Amy Gerrard
The Centre for Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology - the Centre supports over 2500 students and graduates and has helped over 300 start-ups with funding,  advice, training and networking opportunities for their businesses.

Philomene Uwamaliya
Philomene is a senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and Allied Health and the Lead for the Online Resource Hub for Professionals working with Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Patrick Hurley
Patrick is the CEO of Inclusive Economy; an umbrella organisation that offers support and training to SMEs and social enterprises in Liverpool and the Northwest

Ted Rowlands
Ted is a vastly experienced business start-up practitioner, having in the past worked for NatWest Small Business Services, headed up the Prince's Trust Business Programme in Greater Manchester, and worked with number of business support agencies in the North West and Greater London.

Programmes
Some of our members manage and teach on the MSc Entrepreneurship Programme at Liverpool Business School.

Contact us:

The research group is led by Dr. Isaac Oduro Amoako. Please contact us with regards to:

• Invitations for keynote speeches, presentations or workshops
• PhD applications in the area of entrepreneurship, small business management and social enterprise
• Research collaborations
• Capacity building for businesses

Please contact us via: I.O.Amoako@ljmu.ac.uk