University of Northampton launches business research centre

A new centre launched by The University of Northampton will aim to further boost the institution’s reputation for high-quality research – and the future health of business in Northamptonshire.

The Centre for Sustainable Business Practices (CSBP), which was officially launched on Wednesday 29 June, is comprised of three research groups which focus on entrepreneurship and small business development, ethics and corporate responsibility and economies and markets, respectively.

Housed within the University’s Faculty of Business and Law, the centre offers expertise of both academic staff and research students, which will be available for county businesses and organisations to draw upon to help them grow.

Associate Professor Kathy Mortimer, an advertising ethics and regulation expert who helped to set the centre up, said: “We have so much expertise, knowledge and research know-how here, that we really do need to share it with the wider business community.

“Whether that’s by offering paid consultancy services, or carrying out research using a local organisation’s data, we feel we can really help businesses in Northamptonshire.

“The centre’s impact links in perfectly with the University’s ambitious social impact agenda, which aims to make Northamptonshire the best county in the UK to start, build and run a business.”

Speaking at the launch, Professor Simon Denny, Director of Research, Impact and Enterprise at the University, said: “The launch of the centre adds an excellent new element to our structure of research here at the University, which has been getting some incredible results.

“Two years ago the University’s annual income from research was less than £1.7m. By the end of July we will have received nearer to £4m in research income for the year – and our target was £3m.

“We now also have 250 PhD students and in 2015-16 produced nearly 90 high-quality research outputs.

“The challenge in 2016-17 is to try and raise £7m, and the EU referendum result will certainly make that more difficult to achieve, but we mustn’t be too pessimistic. The launch of the centre, and its strong operating model, provides a welcome boost for our research prospects and there is every reason to be optimistic about the future.”