Research carried out with local service providers
PhD student Lee Wainwright, with support from the Centre for Entrepreneurship, has been working with local service providers to conduct focus group research.
Still in the first year of his PhD, Lee uses Grounded Theory research to reflect the needs of those who will benefit most from its findings.
The research carried out during the focus group, looked to highlight the main challenges for service providers who work with at-risk individuals, provoking conversations about enterpreneuring - the doing of entrepreneurial activities - as a pathway toward positive change.
During the focus group, challenges in service provision were discussed and various themes were identified, ranging from stigmitisation, to recognition and identification of issues.
Lee, along with supervisor, analysed these themes to compile a framework model, titled the START table, which contains pressing questions for both further research and policy regarding rehabilitative pathways.
The research has resulted in the early publication of not only an agenda setting report, but also an academic paper for the Journal of Business Venturing Insights.
Professor Munoz said "It is indicative of the high quality of PhD students working with the Centre for Entrepreneurship that within such a short space of time Lee is at the revise and resubmit stage for an academic paper. We are all delighted that Lee’s research is starting so positively and auspiciously and we can’t wait to see what happens next’.
Lee commented "Hopefully, in some small way the report will add to service provider discussion concerning how pathways which support at-risk groups are developed, and possibly can act as a talking point for people from all industries regarding how we treat people in difficult life circumstances’.
The full report is available online.