ISBE 2010: A report from the Conference Chairs
Professor Robert Blackburn & Professor David Smallbone
An ISBE Annual Conference is always a highlight of the academic calendar year and the 2010 conference was particularly exceptional. We were delighted to be conference chairs for 33rd ISBE Conference in London – the first time it has been held in London since 1989. For veterans and newcomers alike, the conference provided a fantastic opportunity for all those interested in small firms and entrepreneurship.
Delegates spanned a variety stakeholders from the community, including academics, keen to present and debate their latest research; practitioners, interested in sharing their day-to-day experiences of managing and running enterprises; and policy makers and staff from support agencies, public and private, looking to share issues in relation to improving support for small firms and promote entrepreneurship.The sheer breadth, scale and quality of the Conference contributions and surrounding activity led to an enriching experience for all those attending. London is a great vibrant, world city. It was important that the ISBE conference proved attractive given the many other competing attractions outside the confines of the conference. thankfully these proved less alluring!
It was decided early on, in the planning of the conference, to have two conference chairs -fittingly from the London based SBRC at Kingston University. London was always going to be a special event and our expectations were more than fulfilled as we struggled to keep abreast of all the activities taking place over the three days! However, it is clear to us from this experience that the small business and entrepreneurship community has multiple stakeholders and the conference reflected this diversity. Indeed, although the core of the conference continues to comprise the presentation of papers and subsequent debates, its raison d’etre is now much more than this: the Doctoral Day, where new and up and coming researchers meet mentors; the workshop on enterprise education where teachers of entrepreneurship share experiences and pedagogic developments; and the plenary presentations by representatives from numerous key stakeholders and influential organisations, collectively illustrate the magnetic force of the field.
The 14 best papers, across a series of subject domains, also underline the excellence of the scholarly work and research undertaken across the field. The numerous practitioners and key presenters, including David Wilson from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Matt Cooper from Global Ethics and the One Foundation, demonstrate both engagement and impact in the real world of policy development and running businesses. 
If we set all this substantial activity against the current challenging economic context and global financial crisis, the ISBE Annual conference in London epitomises the strength and maturity of the field in economy and society. Reflecting on our experiences the Conference event is testimony to the position that the field of small business and entrepreneurship is now firmly established and has solid foundations in both academic and practical domains.
The impact of the 33rd ISBE Annual Conference for research, education, practice and policy are clear for all to be seen, through its activities and publications emerging from the event. Our thanks are extended to all those contributing to make the 33rd Annual Conference such a great success and the organisers for helping it run so smoothly. The bar has been raised for the event in Sheffield in 2011.
Professor Robert Blackburn & Professor David Smallbone, Conference Chairs ISBE 2010, Small Business Research centre, Kingston University
