The role of networks in supporting grassroots good practice in enterprise education

Abstract

The important role that Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) play in promoting more entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours is well recognised. Whilst most countries in Europe have introduced policies to support this agenda through enterprise education, concerns remain as to its sustainability where enterprise education is often dependent upon bespoke funding streams and narrowly concentrated in university business schools. In addressing this challenge regional, national and international networks have been identified as having a crucial part to play. The role that these networks play in supporting enterprise education and educators however is under‐researched and little is known as to their effectiveness. This study focuses on one national network which began as a publically funded initiative, UK Science Enterprise Centres, but has today evolved into Enterprise Educators UK, an independent membership based network.