Project details

This project seeks to explore: why do Community and Social Enterprises (CSEs) in some parts of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) thrive while others are struggling to survive? Working with national partners (e.g. Cooperatives UK, Locality, Social Enterprise UK, workers.coop, Plunkett UK), the research will analyse why LLR can be a relatively more challenging place for CSEs to thrive than in other parts of the UK and what novel polices, and actions could help accelerate and strengthen social entrepreneurship across LLR, and in other areas of the UK and beyond lacking a strong social economy.

Building on reflexive ethnographic methodology, data will be analysed collaboratively with the research participants. During fieldwork the researcher will undertake ethnographic research which involves: working in a number of CSE project partners, attending a series of meetings and events with the aforementioned, interviewing participants to understand the significance of observed practices as well as analysing digital stories gathered with project partners.

Supervisors 

Primary supervisor: Dr Jen Robinson

Secondary supervisor(s): Dr Daniel Sage