Responsibilities

Social Enterprise Research Fellow at the Centre for Enterprise, Social Enterprise Subject Unit Leader.

Editorial and Review Team Board "Social Enterprise Journal"  The SEJ provides an opportunity for practitioners, academics and policy-makers to share new insights into how social enterprise is contributing – and may increasingly contribute – to a more prosperous and sustainable society, economy and environment and how this can be evidenced.

Social enterprise is a powerful global concept which describes those businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally re-invested for that purpose in businesses or in the community. It is an umbrella term for a range of alternative business models, which combine civic engagement and public service with wealth creation.

Social enterprises share a number of common characteristics including an enterprise orientation, a social mission and social ownership based on wider stakeholder participation. Internationally social enterprises provide solutions to market perceived failures in both the private and public sector and assist sustainable development.

Background

Mike is a Research Fellow at Centre for Enterprise, and Unit Leader for Social Enterprise. Mike joined MMUBS in 2002 and has worked on ERDF (European Regeneration Development Fund) and ESF (European Social Fund) projects. Prior to that he was employed by MIPC (Manchester Institute for Popular Culture) in MMU within the Sociology Department and has worked on ESF and other funded research. Mike has a Masters in Research from Manchester Metropolitan University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Management from Leicester University. His first degree was a BSc (Hons) Combined Studies of Printing and Photographic Science with Social Studies of Technology and Mike also has a Higher National Diploma in Printing Management. Industrial experience of 16 years in the printing industry, including; (HMSO) Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Remploy Limited and Management roles in SME's. So private, public and third sector experience.

Research

Mike's research interest is in Social Enterprise. Particularly, (i) The dichotomy of balancing ‘social’ and ‘enterprise’. (ii) transition from traditional third sector organisations into social enterprise. (iii) The business and management performance of new and emerging social enterprises. He is central to the development of a business analysis tool for the social sector called "Balance" http://www.socialenterprisebalance.org as part of an ESF North West funded project. Mike also helped developed Clarity management diagnostic tool for small/medium sized enterprises. 'Academic Enterprise' Balance: A tool to help with managing your organisation - Baseline assessment workshop. Business Bridge for Business in The Community (BiTC)2007 in Greater Manchester and Merseyside Planning for future sustainability: An introduction to the BALANCE toolkit. Delivered in partnership with "MISPA" http://www.mmu.ac.uk/academic/mispa/ March 2007 Action Learning Facilitator on Business Bridge for Business in The Community (BiTC)2006 - January to December Greater Manchester and Merseyside. UnLtd Sounding Board panelist. December 2006 Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Conference Manchester 'Social Enterprise Talkshop'. October 2006 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council - Social Enterprise Workshop. September 2006.

Publications