Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship events

The Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship (BCfE) events provide opportunities for open debate on the most pressing issues on entrepreneurship, SME development and self-employment.

Navigating your future - increasing capacity and stimulating interest in developing entrepreneurship research with impact

Are you an Early Career Researcher or Doctoral student working in entrepreneurship research who would like the opportunity to develop a research strategy that embeds impact into your projects?

Open to:  Early Career Researcher (ECR) or PhD student (PGR) from the University of Liverpool and other institutions, who are currently engaged in or keen to understand how to contribute to entrepreneurship research through engaged scholarship.

Date:    4 -5 December 2025 (2 days)

Time:   9am – 4.30pm (both days)

Cost:    Free to attend. Book your place.

Travel costs are not included. Accommodation is available for participants travelling from outside Liverpool City Region (day one) and a limited number of bursaries are available for ECRs/PGRs travelling from a distance and need to stay in Liverpool the night before the event.

Place:    Hope Street Hotel, 40 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9DA

Event

The main aim of this free, two-day workshop is to provide a space where senior scholars with editorial experience, policy researchers, and present and past ESRC Case PhD students will work collaboratively with you to understand and address the future of entrepreneurship research through engaged scholarship.

It will consider methodological toolkits beyond traditional primary data methods and will provide you with insight into the opportunities and practical challenges of using secondary data, as part of a research design, to embed impactful research and attain advice on how to manage such challenges.

We encourage participants to learn from each other, engage in peer-review opportunities to present their research ideas, and develop critical thinking in dedicated developmental sessions. 

Workshop preparation involves the submission of an extended abstract (2,000 words maximum) summarising your research to be emailed to Dr. Zeineb Djebali and presented during the two-day workshop.

The workshop will also support participants in building relationships and developing networks with colleagues both at early-career and senior levels for future collaborations and to shape the future entrepreneurship research agenda.

Throughout the two days, facilitators will be on hand to provide guidance and support and ensure the smooth running of the event.

Submit your abstract

Please submit your extended abstract (2,000 words maximum) summarising your research by email to Dr Zeineb Djebali,  z.djebali@liverpool.ac.uk by 20 October 2025. Accepted abstracts will be presented during the workshop.

Keynote Speakers

• Professor David Audretsch, Professor and Ameritech Chair of Economic Development at Indiana University
• Professor Diane Holt, Chair in Entrepreneurship, Professor in Management and Organisations at Leeds University
• Professor Paul Jones, Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Swansea University
• Professor Robert Blackburn, Director of the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship at University of Liverpool
• Professor Dilani Jayawarna, Professor of Entrepreneurship at University of Liverpool, will be joined by PhD and post-PhD students, Thahfah Thaha (University of Liverpool), Dr Katherine Neary (Liverpool John Moores University) and Dr Lee Wainwright (Leeds University). 

 

To take part, you must register your place here, where you can also view the full agenda.

 

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Save the date: 11th Annual Entrepreneurship as Practice Conference 2026 

Date:  7-10 April 2026 

Place: University of Liverpool Management School,  Chatham Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZH

The aims of the conference are to advance our understanding of entrepreneurship-as-practice, foster network ties, facilitate collaborative writing relationships, and build a strong community of practice scholars.

More information coming soon.

 

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Entrepreneurs Monthly Meet-up (EMM)

Based in Liverpool? Interested in entrepreneurship and networking with entrepreneurs? Join our free-to-attend Entrepreneurs Monthly Meet-up.

The Entrepreneurs Monthly Meet-up will be back in October to mark the start of the new academic year. 

Seminar series 

Are you a researcher, policymaker or analyst interested in entrepreneurship research. Join our free-to-attend Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship (BCfE) Seminar Series.

The BCfE Seminar Series will be back in October to mark the start of the new academic year.