Professor Simon Denny, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer at The University of Northampton

Professor Simon Denny is Associate Dean, Research and Knowledge Transfer at Northampton Business School, The University of Northampton. He leads a team assisting would-be entrepreneurs in Northamptonshire to start up successful new businesses. His research interests are the effectiveness of business support, the role and value of incubation centres, and the role of social enterprises in reducing unemployment. In addition to being a director of EMIN, he is on the board of E3, a social enterprise helping the unemployed gain new skills, knowledge and jobs.

Chris Hall, Hive Business Manager at Nottingham Trent University

Chris Hall is The Hive Business Manager, responsible for running The Hive, a purpose built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise at Nottingham Trent University. The Hive was created in 2001 to help support staff, students and alumni develop high growth creative, knowledge and technology based start-up enterprises and give them the skills to run their own businesses, as well as to help drive the entrepreneurship agenda into the curriculum across the university. 

Prior to joining The Hive, Chris worked for over 35 years in a wide range of companies throughout British Industry from “blue chip” to SME’s, in sectors ranging from heavy engineering to food and drink and from roofing products to plastics. Principally employed in roles of operational management, manufacturing and logistics, he has managed several subsidiary operations for major plc’s and has also run his own business consultancy.

Andrew Hartley, Commercial Director at the University of Derby

Andrew Hartley is the University’s Commercial Director with responsibility for the University of Derby Corporate, the University’s commercial operations, Innovation for Learning, business incubation, Derby Theatre, business support, external funding and intellectual property management.

Prior to joining the University, Andrew was a Director of Beck & Pollitzer Engineering Ltd with a particular brief to develop the company’s European and International operations. Beck & Pollitzer Engineering are an engineering services contractor specialising in the installation and relocation of industrial plant and machinery.

Stuart Hartley, Business Incubation and Enterprise at De Montfort University (DMU)

Stuart is Head of Business Incubation and Enterprise at De Montfort University.  Stuart originally came to the University to start the leading pre start enterprise programme for students and staff, campus enterprise opportunities, which since inception has supported over 7000 students and staff with enterprise skills and helped start over 500 new businesses.

Stuart now runs the successful Innovation Centre at De Montfort University providing incubation support and accommodation for a variety of different businesses and enterprise development for the University community.

Prior to joining the University Stuart has had a varied career working in the music and sports industry.

Andrew Stevenson, Director of Enterprise@Lincoln at the University of Lincoln

Andrew is Director of Enterprise@Lincoln at the University of Lincoln. He initially came to the University to establish the award winning business incubation centre, Sparkhouse, which over the last 6 years has supported the new start of over 80 businesses focused on the development and use of new technologies.

Enterprise@Lincoln is an innovative central department working with students (through an opportunities service, student job shop and Sparkhouse), staff (through enterprising teaching & learning and technology transfer services) and employers (through the employer engagement and knowledge exchange teams). Andrew is also currently a director of UK Business Incubation.

Dr David Ward, Chairman of EMIN and Director, Enterprise and Business Development at the University of Leicester

Dr David Ward trained originally as a bio-scientist. He has held an academic position, run his own business and has worked in the scientific civil service and with the foreign and commonwealth office. He has a strong personal belief in the exploitable value of HE’s intellectual capital, and has been Director of research innovation and enterprise in two major universities, previously at Sheffield and currently with Leicester for the last 9 years where he also holds the regional engagement brief. He is also an experienced non-executive company Director.