Robert Blackburn

Biography

"I am the Associate Dean for Research, Kingston Business School; and Director of the Small Business Research Centre. My PhD involved an analysis of job generation and job quality in small firms drawing upon various theories of small firm strategy and development. I have since undertaken a range of analyses of small firms and entrepreneurship. I am Editor-in-Chief of the International Small Business Journal http://isb.sagepub.com/. I hold various positions in the field of small business and entrepreneurship in the UK and internationally. I am Visiting Professor at Turku School of Economics, Finland. "

Research Interest

I undertake various projects on small firms and entrepreneurship for a range of stakeholders with a view to raising the knowledge and theory base of small firms. This involves research for private and public sector organizations worldwide, such as the ESRC, the European Commission, European Parliament, the OECD, HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs, and banks and support agencies. Recent studies involve an analysis of SME internationalization, business exit and transfer, employee ownership, and disadvantaged business owners. I principally draw upon qualitative and quantitative methods, working with researchers to produce high-quality outputs that have an impact on society and the economy.