Monday, 03 March 2025
Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) took centre stage at the House of Commons last week, hosting a landmark event on inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation.
Sponsored by Labour Women in Tech founder Samantha Niblett MP and led by Dr Lorna Treanor of NUBS, and co-author of the Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, the event – held on Wednesday 26 February – brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to explore how fostering inclusivity can drive economic growth.
Dr Treanor opened the discussion by emphasising the importance of inclusive entrepreneurship, not as a luxury but as an essential driver of productivity and growth. She highlighted the East Midlands’ strong history of innovation – from Nottingham’s contributions to MRI technology and Ibuprofen, to its status as home to the largest cluster of Life Sciences SMEs outside London. But added, despite these strengths, the region continues to lag in productivity and employment – a challenge that inclusive innovation can help overcome.
We need diverse people to bring their creative solutions forward to address these challenges, driving socio-economic development, enhanced productivity, and regional and national prosperity.鈥�
A key focus of the event was the Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, a pioneering initiative developed by the Business School, advocating systemic change to support a diverse entrepreneurial landscape. Dr Treanor stressed the need to move beyond individual interventions and instead create an ecosystem where all entrepreneurs – regardless of gender, background, or financial means – have equal opportunities to succeed.
The evening featured a thought-provoking panel discussion with experts from business, academia, and entrepreneurship. Natalie Gasson-McKinley MBE, Senior Manager with the British Business Bank’s Policy and Strategy team, shared insights on financial inclusion and breaking down barriers to investment for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Professor Maggie O’Carroll, founder and CEO of The Women’s Organisation, discussed her work in fostering women-owned businesses through dedicated enterprise support and incubation, and Nottingham alumna Adigo Atabo, founder and Director at Persomic, a food as medicine app, provided a first-hand perspective on the challenges of scaling a tech startup as a black female entrepreneur.
The panel tackled pressing issues such as gender disparities in investment, the impact of regional devolution on business support, and the role of public and private sectors in ensuring long-term sustainability for inclusive business initiatives.
“The (British Business) Bank don't invest any money unless it makes commercial sense,” said Natalie Gasson-McKinley. “We invest in black businesses, we invest in female businesses. We don't do that for fun, we don't do that because it's nice to do – we do that because they're good businesses.”
The event underscored Nottingham University Business School’s ongoing commitment to research and initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and responsible entrepreneurship. Attendees were encouraged to support this movement by signing the Charter for Inclusive Entrepreneurship and championing policies that create a more inclusive and dynamic business environment.
As Nottingham continues to build its reputation as a hub for innovation and enterprise, the Business School remains dedicated to shaping a future where diverse entrepreneurs can thrive and drive meaningful economic and social impact across the East Midlands and beyond.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Lorna Treanor of Nottingham University Business School, via lorna.treanor@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
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