Dr Ian Vickers


NameDr Ian Vickers
Job titleSenior Research Fellow
Research institute
Primary appointmentCentre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5863-969X
Contact categoryResearcher (past)

Biography

Biography

Ian is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR) and with the ESRC Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). He has nearly 30 years’ experience of researching sustainable economic development policy, small business, social enterprise and innovation. He has authored many academic papers in journals such as British Journal of Management, Research Policy, International Small Business Journal, Environment and Planning C, Policy Studies and Business Strategy and the Environment. His research interests relate to sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation; business sustainability and supportive ecosystems; and alternative business models for inclusive and sustainable growth. 

Projects which he has led (or co-led) include SMEs in a Low Carbon Economy and an evaluation of the Regional Growth Fund – both for Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Cities, the Social Economy and Inclusive Growth for Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Projects for UKRI include Rethinking Fashion Design Entrepreneurship: Fostering Sustainable Practices  and Social Enterprise as a Catalyst for Sustainable and Healthy Local Food Systems.

Teaching

Guest lecture contributions to:

  • Business and Enterprise for Sustainable Prosperity (PRS4580) for MSc in Sustainable and Environmental Management
  •  Small Business Management & Development (MGT 3017)
  •  Research training for PhD students

Previously module leader for:

  •  Enterprise and Small Business (MGT3180)
  • Business Start-Up Simulation (MGT2000) 

PhD Supervision - completions: 

  • Bianca Stumbitz (2013) Social Entrepreneurship Shaped by the Life Course: A Case Study of Older Social Entrepreneurs

  • Abdullah Al Faruq (2015) Understanding Social Enterprise Growth: The Case of Bangladesh

  • Ricardo Raimundo (2016) Learning Processes in High Growth SMEs: the Portuguese Case

  • Maria Isabel Irurita (2019) The Emergence of Social Innovation within the Social Economy: The case of social enterprises in England

  • Lisa Anne Borley (2022) Regulation as an Opportunity for Learning and Small Business Development: The case of Environmental Health Inspections and Good Learning Behaviours  

Education and qualifications

Grants

Projects

  • ES/M010163/1

Prizes and Awards

Research outputs

Collective capabilities for organizational democracy: the case of mutual social enterprises

Vickers, I., Lyon, F. and Sepulveda Ramirez, L. 2024. Collective capabilities for organizational democracy: the case of mutual social enterprises. British Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12840

Rural social enterprise: contributions, challenges and support needs

Vickers, I., Owen, R., Lyon, F. and Darko, E. 2022. Rural social enterprise: contributions, challenges and support needs. Newcastle Newcastle University.

Public service mutuals: transforming how services are delivered through social enterprise and democratic governance

Vickers, I., Lyon, F., Sepulveda Ramirez, L. and Brennan, G. 2022. Public service mutuals: transforming how services are delivered through social enterprise and democratic governance. Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Social Enterprise: Market Trends 2019

Owen, R., Lyon, F., Vickers, I. and Gottschalk, S. 2021. Social Enterprise: Market Trends 2019. London DCMS.

Implementing democratic governance and ownership: the interplay of structure and culture in public service social enterprises

Sepulveda Ramirez, L., Lyon, F. and Vickers, I. 2020. Implementing democratic governance and ownership: the interplay of structure and culture in public service social enterprises. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 31 (3), pp. 627-641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-020-00201-0

Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe

Stumbitz, B., Vickers, I. and Lyon, F. 2019. Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe. Luxembourg European Union. https://doi.org/10.2767/330252

'Social enterprise spin-outs': an institutional analysis of their emergence and potential

Sepulveda Ramirez, L., Lyon, F. and Vickers, I. 2018. 'Social enterprise spin-outs': an institutional analysis of their emergence and potential. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 30 (8), pp. 967-979. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2018.1431391

Public service innovation and multiple institutional logics: the case of hybrid social enterprise providers of health and wellbeing

Vickers, I., Lyon, F., Sepulveda Ramirez, L. and McMullin, C. 2017. Public service innovation and multiple institutional logics: the case of hybrid social enterprise providers of health and wellbeing. Research Policy. 46 (10), pp. 1755-1768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.08.003

Cities, the social economy and inclusive growth

Vickers, I., Andrea, W., Roger, S., Brennan, G. and Syrett, S. 2017. Cities, the social economy and inclusive growth. York Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Sub-post offices and high street revitalisation: lessons from the experience of grant assistance to sub-post offices in deprived urban areas of the UK

Owen, R., North, D. and Vickers, I. 2015. Sub-post offices and high street revitalisation: lessons from the experience of grant assistance to sub-post offices in deprived urban areas of the UK. Local Economy. 30 (4), pp. 435-451. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094215586958

Opening access to administrative data for evaluating public services: The case of the Justice Data Lab

Lyon, F., Gyateng, T., Pritchard, D., Vaze, P., Vickers, I. and Webb, N. 2015. Opening access to administrative data for evaluating public services: The case of the Justice Data Lab. Evaluation. 21 (2), pp. 232-247. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389015577507

Process of social innovation in mutual organisations: the case of social enterprises leaving the public sector

Lyon, F., Sepulveda Ramirez, L., Vickers, I., McMullin, C. and Gregory, D. 2013. Process of social innovation in mutual organisations: the case of social enterprises leaving the public sector. in: Social frontiers: the next edge of social innovation research NESTA.

Can better working conditions improve the performance of SMEs? An international literature review

Croucher, R., Stumbitz, B., Quinlan, M. and Vickers, I. 2013. Can better working conditions improve the performance of SMEs? An international literature review. Geneva, Switzerland International Labour Organization.

Beyond green niches? Growth strategies of environmentally-motivated social enterprises

Vickers, I. and Lyon, F. 2014. Beyond green niches? Growth strategies of environmentally-motivated social enterprises. International Small Business Journal. 32 (4), pp. 449-470. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242612457700

SMEs and the innovative capability of regions: London’s Lee Valley region in a European context

North, D., Smallbone, D. and Vickers, I. 2003. SMEs and the innovative capability of regions: London’s Lee Valley region in a European context. in: Kirby, D. and Watson, A. (ed.) Small firms and economic development in developed and transition economies: a reader Aldershot Ashgate.

Social enterprise and the environment: a review of the literature

Vickers, I. 2010. Social enterprise and the environment: a review of the literature. Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham.

SMEs in a low carbon economy: final report for BERR enterprise directorate.

Vickers, I., Vaze, P., Corr, L., Kasparova, E., Lyon, F. and CEEDR (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) 2009. SMEs in a low carbon economy: final report for BERR enterprise directorate. London Department for Business, Innovation & Skills..

Influences on small firm compliance-related behaviour: the case of workplace health and safety.

Owen, R., James, P., Smallbone, D. and Vickers, I. 2006. Influences on small firm compliance-related behaviour: the case of workplace health and safety. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space. 24 (6), pp. 827-846. https://doi.org/10.1068/c0564

Better regulation and enterprise: the case of environmental health risk regulation in Britain

Vickers, I. 2008. Better regulation and enterprise: the case of environmental health risk regulation in Britain. Policy Studies. 29 (2), pp. 215-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870802033514

Local alchemy in the East Midlands

Vickers, I. 2007. Local alchemy in the East Midlands. in: North, D., Syrett, S. and Etherington, D. (ed.) Political devolution, regional governance and tackling deprivation York, UK Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Interventions to tackle the economic needs of deprived areas: analysis of six policy case studies.

North, D., Syrett, S., Etherington, D., Vickers, I. and CEEDR (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) 2007. Interventions to tackle the economic needs of deprived areas: analysis of six policy case studies. York Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Review of the enterprise promotion fund

Vickers, I., Owen, R., Etherington, D., North, D. and CEEDR (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) 2006. Review of the enterprise promotion fund. Small Business Service..

Evaluation of the deprived urban post office fund.

North, D., Vickers, I., Owen, R., Ekanem, I. and CEEDR (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) 2005. Evaluation of the deprived urban post office fund. London Office of the Deputy Prime Minister..

Understanding small firm responses to regulation: the case of workplace health and safety

Vickers, I., Smallbone, D., James, P. and Owen, R. 2005. Understanding small firm responses to regulation: the case of workplace health and safety. Policy Studies. 26 (2), pp. 149-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870500127626

Regulating health and safety in small firms.

Smallbone, D., Vickers, I., James, P. and Owen, R. 2005. Regulating health and safety in small firms. in: Gray, C. and Bannock, G. (ed.) Government regulation and the small firm Milton Keynes, UK Open University Business School.

The use of external sources of health and safety information and advice: the case of small firms

Vickers, I., Smallbone, D. and Owen, R. 2004. The use of external sources of health and safety information and advice: the case of small firms. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety. 2 (1), pp. 91-104.

Cultural influences on health and safety attitudes and behaviour in small firms.

Vickers, I., Owen, R., Smallbone, D., James, P., Ekanem, I., Bertotti, M. and CEEDR (Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research) 2003. Cultural influences on health and safety attitudes and behaviour in small firms. London Health & Safety Executive Research Report, HSE Books.

The role and characteristics of SMEs.

Smallbone, D., North, D. and Vickers, I. 2003. The role and characteristics of SMEs. in: Asheim, B. (ed.) Regional innovation policy for small-medium enterprises. Cheltenham Edward Elgar.

Innovation and the use of technology in manufacturing plants and SMEs: an interregional study

Vickers, I., North, D., Smallbone, D. and Roper, S. 2003. Innovation and the use of technology in manufacturing plants and SMEs: an interregional study. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space. 21 (1), pp. 37-52. https://doi.org/10.1068/c0218

Public sector support for innovating SMEs

North, D., Smallbone, D. and Vickers, I. 2001. Public sector support for innovating SMEs. Small Business Economics. 16 (4), pp. 303-317. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011164801073

Cleaner production: organisational learning or business as usual? An example from the domestic appliance industry

Vickers, I. 2000. Cleaner production: organisational learning or business as usual? An example from the domestic appliance industry. Business Strategy and the Environment. 9 (4), pp. 255-268. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-0836(200007/08)9:4<255::AID-BSE252>3.0.CO;2-A

Policy support for R and D in SMEs: the UK government’s SMART award scheme.

Smallbone, D., North, D., Vickers, I. and McCarthy, I. 2000. Policy support for R and D in SMEs: the UK government’s SMART award scheme. in: During, W., Oakey, R. and Kipling, M. (ed.) New technology-based firms at the turn of the century. Oxford Pergamon. pp. 143-159

Regional technology initiatives: some insights from the English regions

Vickers, I. and North, D. 2000. Regional technology initiatives: some insights from the English regions. European Planning Studies. 8 (3), pp. 301-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/713666413
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