E-Magazine
Message from the President
Dr Nigel Lockett
Dear ISBE Members,
With the usual mixture of sunshine and record rainfall, summer is nearly in full swing. The ISBE community is busy preparing for this year’s conference at the beautiful Grand Connaught Rooms in London. We have received a record number of abstracts with 440 submissions. With the overall quality improving, the real challenge looks set to be scheduling over 240 papers into the new format 2-day conference. We are indebted to the track chairs and their review teams for meeting all the deadlines and are delighted that London conference committee is being chaired by Professors Robert Blackburn and David Smallbone both from Kingston University, London. I think we are set for an excellent conference full of quality papers, stimulating presentations and lively discussions. Responding to your feedback from the Liverpool conference we have increased the networking opportunities improved the exhibitors’ area and booked a disco for after the Gala dinner!
It isn’t just the ISBE conference which is breaking the records. The second round of the Research and Knowledge Exchange fund (RAKE) 2010, sponsored by Barclays, ESRC and NCGE, received 70 applications. Prof Sue Marlow is chairing the review process, which is now well underway. We have also heard from the five successful RAKE 2009 projects at a special workshop earlier this year. All will be presenting their progress at the conference in London.
I recently find myself, as ISBE President, drawn into the current debate on regional economic development and enterprise education. In this context we need to promote ISBE’s distinctive research-focused profile and reputation for evidence-based contributions. Through our involvement in The Enterprise Alliance, the ISBE Council and meetings with key stakeholders we are endeavouring to make our distinctive voice heard. I am eagerly awaiting the new Government’s White Paper local enterprise partnerships. However, I confess it may not be my first choice for holiday reading! We all feel that it will have to be ‘more for less’ but what will be the role for enterprise researchers, educators and practitioners in this new landscape?
I trust you will all manage to have a break and recharge your batteries for what is undoubtedly going to be a busy autumn. For me this will involve taking up a chair at the University of Leeds as Professor of Enterprise and Director of the Leeds Enterprise Centre on 1st September. I'm delighted to be taking up this position at the Leeds University Business School. With so many jobs at risk in the public sector, it has never been more important to provide enterprise education to all students.
I’d now like to welcome you to the Summer edition of Enterprising Matters on Ethical Enterprise. This certainly seems to be a contentious subject which has captured the imagination of our membership and raised a number of interesting debates. This makes for a packed issue and a stimulating read and there’s opportunity for you to join the discussions too if you feel inspired.
Have a super summer!
Nigel
Dr Nigel Lockett, ISBE President, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (CEIM) at Bradford University School of Management
