How it all Began: ISBE’s meetings started in the mid 70s shortly after the publication of the Bolton Report in 1971 which led to the emergence of entrepreneurship as a legitimate public policy target and focus for academic research. By 1977 these ad hoc, informal meetings of the early small business and entrepreneurship researchers had become a full annual conference which is still running 34 years later.

The Institute is formed: Originally an annual conference hosted by a different university each year, it was not until 1989 that the researchers formally organised as the UK Enterprise Management and Research Association (UKEMRA). Three years later, in 1992, the name was changed to Institute for Small Business Affairs (ISBA). In 2004, recognising the increased focus on entrepreneurship in policy and research, the organisation became the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE).

Past activities and achievements: Through the years as well as the ISBE conference, ISBE has held many regional events in the form of doctoral work shops, work shops on all aspects of entrepreneurial education and research, policy think-tanks and debates in response to government iniatives and other contemporary issues, and practical, skill building work shops for small business practitioners. ISBE has produced many publications such as books, reports, research papers and conference outcomes. In addition to this ISBE provided a network for those in the field of small business and entrepreneurship allowing collaboration, debate and sharing of valuable insight, knowledge and best practice. In this way ISBE sought to contribute to the world of enterprise by disseminating knowledge and skills, platforming the latest research, supporting entrepreneurial education and encouraging debate.