Amina Nabi (Kinnect2), Sara Carter, Mark Hart (Aston University and Director ERC), Jackie Brierton (Women’s Enterprise Scotland), Beltus Etchu (CEO African Forum Scotland), Fiona Gilchrist (CEMVO – Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (Scotland)
The Scottish launch of the new Enterprise Research Centre took place at the business school on January 21 with the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship hosting a panel discussion on 'Diversity and Enterprise in Scotland'. Head of the Hunter Centre, Professor Sara Carter, is Associate Director of the new enterprise centre, and spoke at the event, outlining the remit of the new £2.9 million centre, a consortium of leading UK business schools with the aim of helping develop an understanding of the factors affecting business investment, performance and growth. It will become a national and international focal point for research, knowledge and expertise on SMEs.
The overall debate on diversity and enterprise centred on whether Scotland’s increasingly ethnically diverse population is reflected in its business base, and looked at issues such as why women are still under-represented in enterprise; how the increasing numbers of people with disabilities starting businesses are supported; how greater numbers of older people can be encouraged into entrepreneurship; and whether there is enough relevant data and research on diversity in business.
An interactive panel discussion attempted to address these issues, and the panel was facilitated by Jackie Brierton, Policy Director of Women's Enterprise Scotland.
Ideas and issues from the discussion will inform the future research agenda of the Enterprise Research Centre as well as the Scottish Government's drive to increase entrepreneurship and business formation.