Social Science Enterprise Lab

In a new Social Science Enterprise Lab at Durham University, we aim to scale up the impact of social science research through commercialisation. Unlike other science commercialisation activities, we bring research impact and business prospection together and early into the research process. In the Lab, we leverage the generative power of social science knowledge and the motivation behind social enterprising. Combined, they can give the research efforts of social scientists the necessary intentionality and direction to produce scalable research impact, as it is embedded into the research process itself and the daily practices of social scientists. 

At the core of The Social Science Enterprise Lab is a 10-month research incubation programme that supports teams of researchers and practitioners in conducting solution-oriented research. Each team will comprise three Durham University-based social scientists and three practitioners/ SME founders in the North-East of England. Social scientists receive training and support to develop their research into scalable and sustainable impact. Practitioners/ SME founders receive training and support to co-create research-based solutions with commercial potential. Participating practitioners/SME founders will become Entrepreneurs-in-Residence at Durham University Business School for the duration of the programme.

In the next three years (2024-2026), the Lab aims to support ten social science research project teams. These teams will receive training, conduct joint problematisation, engage in research activities, explore solutions through prospection, explore markets for research solutions, and engage in commercialisation activities. At the end of the 10-month programme, the intention is to have a scalable research intervention/solution and a clear pathway to bring the intervention/solution to the market. It is the ambition of the Lab to develop all methods and tools that support the research projects into a scalable intervention itself as well.

The following team members work in the Social Science Enterprise Lab:

Professor Pablo Munoz (Professor in Entrepreneurship)

Sanne Elbrink (Postdoctoral Research Associate, expert in communities of practice)

Jeni Smith (PhD student exploring research-practice networks)

Rodrigo Frias (PhD student exploring research-policy engagement)

Dr. Laura Bond (Investor and expert in science spin-offs)

Entrepreneurs in Residence

Nicola Jayne Little

CEO, Founder and Chief Activator at Celebrate Difference a Social Enterprise dedicated to creating opportunities for ADHDers to thrive. Ex-primary school teacher and Founder of 9 businesses in 15 years, Nicola was diagnosed ADHD/Dyspraxic at the age of 46 and launched Celebrate Difference to support others like herself. With two thirds of the team either diagnosed or identify as Neurodivergent, no two days are ever the same!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolajaynelittle/ 

Graham Martin

Youth Pathways Lead at Celebrate Difference and experienced SEND Teacher, Graham heads up all the teaching and learning opportunities for our local community working with social enterprises, charities and schools to support the programme of diverse opportunities for young people. He also heads up our own wellbeing programme for all staff under 25 years old!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-martin-2b6702246/ 

Holly Knight

Marketing Co-ordinator and Youth Programme Lead at Celebrate Difference. Since joining the organisation, Holly has successfully completed her Marketing Apprenticeship and has written and is leading the Learn, Grow, Thrive programme specifically aimed at supporting young adults to thrive in education and the workplace.  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-knight/ 

Jase Smith FCMI, PGCE, CExIoSCM, TechIOSH

Jase has over 35 years experience within the military and has over 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering training in leadership, management, mental health, wellbeing and resilience. After resigning from the Army to support organisations during the COVID pandemic he established and grew a successful training and consultancy business focused on improving psychological health and safety. He has spent the last 10 years’ delivering mental health related training to managers and employees in the workplace across many different industry sectors worldwide. This has included large government departments, prisons, the third sector, NHS trusts, schools, the construction, automotive and rail industries as well as private enterprises. Jase is driven to promote a mentally healthy workplace culture for everyone and his experience as a leader allows him to deliver training whilst fully understanding the challenges leaders and managers face in changing workplace culture. Combining his knowledge of mental health, wellbeing and leadership with his entrepreneurial spirit he co-founded Mind Your Business which supports improving the mental health of entrepreneurs and business owners alongside delivering executive education.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jase-smith-zero78training/ 

James Eves

James speaks 3 languages, has an MBA and brings 20+ years of international experience across 5 countries. He has started multiple businesses, supported other entrepreneurs, and been in the corporate world across the real estate, construction, manufacturing and training sectors. James a.k.a The Strengths Guy – of Work Pirates and Inspiration North CIC – is a Gallup® certified strengths coach with a wealth of coaching experience; all helping people to uncover their strengths and to use them to best effect. He has worked with a wide range of people from parents and their children, to business owners, to those with ADHD / Autism, to senior leaders, and teams within SMEs and large corporations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameseves/ 

For more information about the Social Science Enterprise Lab, contact Professor Pablo Munoz.