Through our research and impact activities we work with a variety of organisations and individuals who serve the needs of SMEs by providing training, networking, and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and their employees. We also engage with practitioner and policy-making bodies which have a focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as individuals and academic staff with specialist interest in entrepreneurship and small businesses.
In collaboration with these organisations and individuals CIMR hosts panel discussions, workshops and networking events that are of interest to SMEs.
For example the Regional Studies Association project (2020-2021) on geographies of support for disabled and ethically diverse entrepreneurs has two dedicated websites. One of these lists the 38 participants in the research and their activities. All of our partners are invited to all of CIMR’s events and many have participated as speakers, chairs and co-organisers. They use their networks to invite their members and contacts to take part in or attend our events. Examples of the many people who have taken part in and co-organised events include Jacqueline Winstanley, Monder Ram OBE, Philip Connelly, Jane Hatton, Sam Everard, Diana Chrouch, Beldina Owalla, Kimberley Mamhende and Jabo Buttera.
Making Business Innovation Accessible to Diverse Groups — Birkbeck, University of London (bbk.ac.uk)
Partners also invite CIMR colleagues to take part in their events and activities so consolidating ties. Examples include Jacqueline Winstanley Founder and CEO of The Inclusive Entrepreneur and Secretariat and Inquiry Advisory Board Chair to the APPG for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, who invited Ning Baines and Helen Lawton Smith to the APPG for Inclusive Entrepreneurship “Road to Wonder “Inquiry Advisory Board.
The National Enterprise Network’s (NEN) focus is on representing, uniting and supporting all organisations which are passionate about inspiring and encouraging enterprise. NEN invited Helen Lawton Smith to do a provocation on diversity and entrepreneurship at the NEN annual conference in November 2021. Philip Connelly invited Helen Lawton Smith to be a keynote speaker on the project at the launch of the Disability Resilience Network, November 2021.
The National Enterprise Network’s (NEN) focus is on representing, uniting and supporting all organisations which are passionate about inspiring and encouraging enterprise. NEN invited Helen Lawton Smith to do a provocation on diversity and entrepreneurship at the NEN annual conference in November 2021. Philip Connelly invited Helen Lawton Smith to be a keynote speaker on the project at the launch of the Disability Resilience Network, November 2021.
We also work with organisations such as Innovate UK, Cabinet Office Disability Unit, British Business Bank, UKRI and the OECD.
Individual Collaborators
The following is a list of CIMR’s individual collaborators whose expertise is critical to SMEs and our research activities.
| Name | Expertise |
| Abigail Martin | Speech writer |
| Charlynne Pullen | Vocational education, Further education, Skills policy |
| Corporate training, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship | |
| Claire Agutter | Service design and management, IT education, eLearning |
| Kerrie Dorman | Mentoring skills, Employee engagement, Leadership development |
| Martin Austin | Disabled Entrepreneurs, Inclusive entrepreneurship, Social entrepreneurship |
| Mirella Koleva | Quantum physics, Software development, Molecular biology |
| Paul Chan | Leadership, economics |
| Sara-Louise Ackrill | Neurodiversity, Social entrepreneurship, Personal development, Public speaking |
| Henry Lim | Operations, Marketing and Sales |
| Shana Tufail | Neurodiversity, inclusivity, Sustainability strategy, Communications and Marketing |
| Thierry Gonard | Business development, Innovation management |
| Ve Dewey | Design, Cultural and Digital Transformation, Marketing |
| Vickie Collinge | Marketing, Public Relations, Talent management |
| Giuseppina Magnani | Accounting |
| Don Spalinger | Innovation management, Entrepreneurship |