Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research (SBER) Group

Our group aims to bridge the theory-practice gap in small business in order to create a positive impact on businesses, society and the economy. It conducts research to identify and address the needs of micro, small, medium and entrepreneurial firms. Researchers focus on capacity building of these businesses to enhance the social and economic development at the local, regional, national and international levels. Members are highly skilled and experienced scholars with a broad range of knowledge, industry experience and strong links to industry and professional bodies.

Our expertise includes:

• cultural entrepreneurship
• creativity and innovation
• investigating the causes and factors that lead to enterprise and business failure
• 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 scholars and visiting research fellows to enhance research activities of members and postgraduate students.
• Collaborate with entrepreneurs and industry experts to enhance research activities of members and postgraduate students.
• Collaborate with local, regional, national and international businesses to enhance capacity building for social and economic development.

Examples of research projects include:

• 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.

Contact us

The research group is led by Professor Ian Fillis. 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.R.Fillis@ljmu.ac.uk