Jane Galsworthy appointed as new ERC Steering Group Chair

Jane Galsworthy, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Advice, has been appointed as the new independent Chair of the Enterprise Research Centre’s Steering Group.

Jane replaces Lucy Armstrong, Chief Executive of The Alchemists, who had Chaired the ERC Steering Group since 2013.

Over the last 20 years, Jane has been focused on ensuring that SME policy interventions build on good practice and result in business support programmes that deliver tangible economic impact. She joined the company in 2008 and leads Oxford Innovation Advice which design, mobilises and delivers business support that enables SMEs to innovate and grow. Over the last 10 years, these programmes have provided expert advice to over 20,000 SMEs leaders and delivered £1bn of GVA to local economies. Jane has been an active member of the ERC Steering Group since 2018.

Professor Stephen Roper, Director of the ERC said: “I am very pleased to welcome Jane as the new Chair of the ERC Steering Group. Jane has been a strong supporter and advocate of the ERC’s research for several years. This, alongside her passion for innovation and considerable expertise in the delivery of business support will be extremely valuable in helping ensure the ERC continues to deliver actionable and impactful research.”

Jane Galsworthy said: “I am looking forward to taking over the role of Chair of the ERC Steering Group. Over the last 20 years, I have been focused on ensuring that SME policy interventions build on good practice and result in business support programmes that deliver tangible economic impact. SMEs are responsible for most of the growth and innovation in our economy so it is crucial that policymakers have access to robust evidence and can design public funding that delivers interventions that enable SMEs to thrive”

The ERC has been delivering independent research to inform policy and practice on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) since 2013. The Centre is based jointly at Warwick and Aston University Business Schools and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Innovate UK, The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the British Business Bank (BBB).  It is now the leading centre of excellence in the UK for research into the growth, innovation and productivity of SMEs and has become the ‘go-to’ reference point for anyone looking for robust, trusted data and insights on SME performance.

The Steering Group consists of a range of stakeholders, all with a shared interest in creating the conditions for SMEs to thrive. It provides advice on the strategic direction of the Centre, as well as practical support with research communication and dissemination activity.