Transforming Enterprise – A Collaborative Approach to inclusive growth

Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in the region’s economy; the purpose of this event is to bring together leading researchers, policy makers, business and students to share latest thinking in how we can best collaborate to improve growth for Small and Medium sized companies (SMEs) and the economy in general. Subjects such as business ambition, strategy, supply chains, leadership, finance, innovation, productivity and diversity will form part of the discussion. A key focus of the event is to bridge the gap between evidence and practice which informs an inclusive agenda for policy and business practice for small and medium sized enterprises. Collaboration between different types of organisations, expertise and experience is essential in delivering growth. The afternoon will discuss how we can all be effective in doing so.

Speakers include:

• Qasim Majid, President of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce
• Andy Lee, Strategic Lead for Diversity, RBS & NatWest Business Banking
• Dr Pam Waddell, Director, Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands
• Rebecca Riley, Head of Research and Office for Data Analytics (ODA), West Midlands Combined Authority
• Joel Blake OBE, Executive Officer for Growing Businesses, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership
• Professor Mark Gilman – Director, Centre for Enterprise, innovation and Growth, Birmingham City University
• Professor Kiran Trehan – Director for the Centre for Women’s Enterprise leadership and Diversity, University of Birmingham

The event is organised on behalf of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Special Interest Group on SME Growth in Collaboration with Centre for Women’s Enterprise, Leadership, Economy and Diversity [WE LEAD] at Birmingham University & Centre for Enterprise, Innovation and Growth, Birmingham City University