Social enterprise research

All the University's research centres identify how social enterprise can be integrated with existing research projects; and all new research projects consider how to contribute new knowledge to inform the social enterprise movement - locally, nationally, and internationally. We do, of course, recognize that social enterprise is not relevant for some areas of research.

We are not unquestioning about or uncritical of social enterprise. Many of our current research projects are actively questioning whether social enterprise is the way ahead for some sectors. We are, after all, a university and asking difficult questions is what we are good at.

inSpirE Northants

The University has set up the inSpirE Northants research initiative, integrated with the inSpirE Northants project. This initiative, funded by the University, enables researchers from each of our six Schools to carry out new research into aspects of social enterprise. The inSpirE research initiative has dedicated funding for the next four years and is a key part of the University's strategic commitment to social entrepreneurship.