Objectives and Philosophy

Centre Objective

CEIG was established as part of the University's commitment to increasing its research activities and presence, developing services for the regionally-based businesses, and influencing key policy organisations within the Birmingham area and across the West Midlands.

Alongside activities in and around the West Midlands, CEIG is involved in international research in Indonesia, Greece, and Canada.

Centre Philosophy

Our philosophy at CEIG considers growth and development in SMEs as a highly individual phenomenon. Each SME is unique, operating with and in distinctive entrepreneurial, operational, industrial and spatial contexts. In contrast to many orthodox approaches to studying growth, we aim for a more integrated and dynamic understanding applying both quantitative and qualitative models adapted for more longitudinal analysis.

Critical to our research is a community-based approach where SMEs are simultaneously subjects, key partners, and beneficiaries. Our work is designed to influence not only academic debate but also the fields of policy, and business practice.