Spaces of Community: Exploring dynamics of the UK café industry

Exploring the development of the café industry, and understanding the role of different types of cafés in a range of urban spaces. 


Managing My Money for the Just About Managing

Through this project in collaboration with the Open University, we explored the potential for education-based interventions to increase people’s financial motivation and generate more positive financial behaviours. 


FaçadeReLog Reverse logistics for the recovery of metal in the façade industry

A CBiS Project with the aim of supporting innovation, technology, and skills in the façade industry, particularly by directly addressing raw material challenges that require collaboration amongst stakeholders along the value chain.


TechSTER: Tech Students, Entrepreneurial Routes

aiming to enhance entrepreneurial and soft skills and behaviours of teachers and students in Higher Education Institutions


Creative Freelancer Business Models and Place-based Growth

The project is designed to address an important evidence gap around the contribution of freelancers to the economic and place-based impacts of the creative industries.


Comprehensive Tourism Revival Framework for Socio-Economic Development in Post-conflict Kashmir: Lessons from Northern Ireland

This international project’s focus will be on one of the important and challenging areas in South Asia – Kashmir, which used to be a leading tourist destination for generations.


Harnessing Growth Sectors for Poverty Reduction: What Works to Reduce Poverty through Sustainable Employment with Opportunities for Progression

Employment has been seen as a key route out of poverty, however there are also increasing concerns about the prevalence of in-work poverty in the UK. The proposed research seeks to fill a gap in evidence about 'what works' in harnessing growth sectors for poverty reduction.


Sustainable cut-flowers project

Between 2015 and 2019 Dr David Bek and Dr Jill Timms managed externally funded projects examining different facets of sustainability within the global cut-flower industry.


From the East End of London to the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro: The relevance and transferability of the social legacy programmes of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LONRIO)

Project findings highlight how clear communication with the local community and proper inclusion in the planning and implementation phases can potentially greatly improve the satisfaction levels of the host community with regard to the event and the legacies it may bring.


Addressing inequality, enhancing diversity and facilitating greater dialogue in the hosting of sporting mega events (EventRights)

The EventRights project will explore and produce recommendations as to how major sporting events (MSEs) can influence MSE organising committees and other stakeholders to ensure that progressive social opportunities to address inequality, enhance diversity. 


The ‘Prosper’ programme – researching business support for cultural and creative organisations

The Prosper programme aims to strengthen the resilience and investment readiness of arts organisations, museums and libraries in England.


A Multi-Scalar Exploration into the Internal and External Drivers of Citizen Participation in Community Food Growing Projects in Lambeth, London

The aim of this doctoral research is to explore the internal and external drivers influencing citizens' participation in urban community food growing projects.


On Behalf of the People: Work and Community in the Nationalised British Coal Industry, 1947-1994

This 3 year study will conduct a revised history of the nationalised British coal industry (1947-1994), examining this from a macro-, meso-, and micro-, perspective.  


How do EV adopters make decisions? Understanding their behaviours and exploring the strategic role of brands for CBiS

This study aims to assess whether an alternative approach of new market entrants, such as Tesla, in marketing the EV as a desirable gadget, badge of honour and ‘must-have’ brand, is likely to bring about mass adoption and a step-change in sales.


From the Grounds Up: The Coffee Shop Industry and the Circular Economy

This study aims to explore how businesses and consumers can engage in the circular economy, the facilitators and inhibitors for doing so, and the importance of these actions for sustainable economies and societies. The UK and Germany are used as two case studies for exploring how and why the coffee shop industry takes part in the circular economy.


Innovation in Tackling Food Waste

This ESRC Festival of social science event, aimed to showcase new and innovative research strategies of tackling food waste and connect social innovators with the business community.


A Self Contained British Empire in Metals

This project explores attempts after the First World War to organise a British imperial minerals strategy, to ensure British control over the mineral reserves of the Empire.  


Expert Advisor to MEPC High Performance Technology and Motorsport Cluster Study

Commissioned SQW to investigate the high performance technology and motorsport (HPTM) cluster across the geography “within about 30 minutes” of Silverstone.


Negotiating the creative ecosystem: cultural and creative microenterprise business journeys

Sponsorship of a PhD studentship by Creative United to support their work in providing financial goods and services to enable the growth and development of the UK’s cultural and creative industries.


The Emerging Ethical Profile of Mega-Events

The emerging ethical profile of mega-events: exploring the governance, standards and sustainability issues that contribute to corporate social responsibility legacies.