ERC State of Small Business Britain Conference 2026

Location

WBS London, 17th Floor
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London
SE19SG

https://www.wbs.ac.uk/wbs-in-london/the-shard/

December 1, 2026 09:00 - December 1, 2026 16:45

The 11th annual Enterprise Research Centre (ERC) State of Small Business Britain Conference will take place on 1st December at The Shard in London, and online.

The focus of the conference this year is on Small Businesses and Local Economic Resilience.

Regional economic disparities are one of the UK’s most pressing economic challenges. The potential of place-based strategy as a solution is receiving increasing attention with the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister who has pledged to deliver “good growth in every postcode” by transferring more power to local communities.

But what do we mean by ‘good growth’? How do we measure it, and how should we nurture it? And, given that small businesses make up the vast majority of the business population in local economies, how do they fit into the picture? What support do they need, and what is their role more widely in enhancing local economic resilience?

We will explore all of these questions and more at this event, sharing a mix of research insights and stimulating discussion with  an excellent set of academic, business and policy speakers.

The ERC is the leading centre of excellence in the UK for research into the growth, innovation and productivity of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and has become the reference point for anyone looking for robust, trusted data and insights on SME performance. We work closely with SME policymakers, combining academic rigour with accessibility and policy relevance.

The State of Small Business Britain Conference has become a ‘must-attend’ event for those interested in enterprise research, support and policy. The conference is free of charge to attend, and spaces are limited, so please register early to secure your place.

2026-12-01 09:00:00 2026-12-01 16:45:00 Europe/London ERC State of Small Business Britain Conference 2026 WBS London, 17th Floor , The Shard , 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE19SG Enterprise Research Centre info@enterpriseresearch.ac.uk Book Now

Registration

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There will be vegetarian and vegan options available as standard.