Faculty of Business and Law | Bristol Business School blog

RISE Securing a green, resilient future – College of Business and Law research showcase

Faculty of Business and Law | 20 April 202620 April 2026

After the first successful Research Showcase on the RISE Beacon ‘Enriching Culture, Place and Community’, the College of Business and Law hosted a second bringing colleagues together under UWE Bristol’s RISE Beacon ‘Securing a Green, Resilient Future’.

Opening the event, Professor Wendy Phillips, Dean of Research and Enterprise, highlighted the College’s growing role in research on climate resilience, sustainable economies, governance reform, leadership and community transformation. Emphasising the unique position and need for more interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex global challenges, Professor Phillips said:

“Securing a green, resilient future is not something any one discipline can achieve alone. As our graduates won’t work in a single context, neither should our research.”

As before, the showcase featured a series of quick-fire 5 minute presentations across two panels.

Panel 1: Reimagining systems for a green, resilient future

The first panel explored how systems: economic, legal and environmental, can be reimagined to support sustainability and resilience.

Understanding regional environmental impact

Dr Peter Bradley presented a detailed account of greenhouse gas emissions across 100 sectors in the West of England. One of the most comprehensive regional datasets to date, his work highlights both direct and embodied emissions, providing important evidence base for both policy and decision-making. For example, Professor Bradley showed how directing efforts on key sectors could have a big impact on our emissions and how zero carbon policies will not impact on jobs in the region.

Rethinking river governance

Elena Blanco invited the audience to reflect on childhood memories of rivers, paddling, fishing and connection to nature and then contrasted these with the reality of increasingly polluted waterways across the UK. Highlighting fragmented governance and under-resourced systems, she explored how a rights of nature approach could transform river management in the Bristol Avon bioregion. By recognising rivers as entities with intrinsic value rather than resources to exploit, her work positions governance as a tool for community mobilisation, bringing stakeholders together proactively to protect rivers rather than responding only after damage has occurred.

Building a circular economy through ship recycling

Dr Amore Minayora presented ship recycling as a powerful example of the circular economy. Noting that with around 140,000 ships in global circulation, many eventually reach the end of their service and must be dismantled and reused. While this system is already in operation in countries such as India, Amore highlighted both its environmental significance and its challenges, including greenhouse gas impacts and serious concerns around worker safety, regulation and practices such as beaching. Positioned at the intersection of global trade, circular economy ambitions and growing demand for greener steel, this research explores how ship recycling can be better supported and regulated to deliver safer and more sustainable outcomes.

Environmental harm and international law

Professor Gerhard Kemp explored how environmental destruction intersects with international criminal law, drawing on examples from conflict zones such as Gaza and Ukraine to illustrate the scale of damage to infrastructure and agricultural land. He questioned whether international criminal law should, and can, play a role in holding those responsible to account, noting key limitations including the lack of distinct ecocentric crimes and enforcement mechanisms. His work engages with emerging efforts to define ecocide as an international crime and introduces the concept of “terraforming warfare” as a way of understanding and framing extreme environmental destruction within existing legal frameworks.

Panel 2: Leadership, lifestyles and youth engagement for sustainable futures

The second panel focused on the human dimensions of sustainability, from leadership and behaviour change to inclusion and youth engagement.

Young people and climate action: The Think Fashion campaign

Laura McAllister shared research on sustainable consumption, highlighting how young people are often highly motivated to engage in climate action, particularly through everyday behaviours shaped by both altruistic and more individual drivers. Building on this, a HEIF-funded project brought together students, researchers and local partners to co-create the forthcoming Think Fashion campaign, encouraging more conscious consumer choices and a shift towards reducing and reusing rather than relying on recycling. With plans to develop a wider toolkit for schools, the project promotes a system wide approach, positioning consumers as active citizens who can use their purchasing power to influence change.

Making outdoor events more inclusive

Clare MacKay and Dr Ed Little presented research on the experiences of outdoor event attendees with dietary requirements, including religious, medical and lifestyle needs. Their findings show that many face anxiety, exclusion and stigma, often relying on coping strategies due to limited or unsuitable food options. The research highlights the risks of one size fits all solutions, such as assuming vegan options meet all needs, and emphasises the importance of inclusive design. By developing personas and teaching materials, their work encourages a more thoughtful approach to event planning that supports a healthier, greener and fairer society.

The Burnout Cure: A Radical Rethink of SME Leadership

Dr Alison Miles introduced her forthcoming book The Burnout Cure, which reframes sustainability through the lens of individual leadership and wellbeing. Highlighting the scale of mental health challenges among SME leaders, she described how many feel overwhelmed and uncertain, “lost in the woods” when navigating business pressures. Her work argues that sustainable change begins with the individual, showing that it is possible to run a business in a way that prioritises peace of mind over constant growth. By shifting how leaders think and act, she suggests, wider transformation across organisations and systems can follow.

Leadership beyond the Sustainable Development Goals

Professor Richard Bolden shared insights from his forthcoming edited volume The Elgar Companion to Leadership Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals, which brings together perspectives on the future of leadership in the context of global sustainability challenges. Reflecting on the need to move beyond existing frameworks, he highlighted the importance of more inclusive and system wide approaches. Drawing on a quote from humanitarian Tom Fletcher, he closed by posing a provocative question about the future of leadership in an increasingly technological world: how do we shape systems and algorithms that are more humanitarian than we are?

The next showcase will focus on the RISE Beacon of ‘harnessing creativity and technology’ date to be confirmed. For more details, contact Noelle Quenivet or Sarah-Louise Weller.

Scaling CAR-T: Bringing industry, clinicians and researchers together to expand patient access

Faculty of Business and Law | 25 March 202627 March 2026

CAR-T therapies are transforming outcomes for some cancer patients, offering hope where few options remain. However, ensuring more people can benefit from these treatments is a growing challenge.

What is CAR-T?

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) represent a new wave of transformative cancer treatments, delivering remarkable outcomes for patients. Among these, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapies are at the forefront. CAR-T works by taking a patient’s own immune cells, modifying them in a lab to recognise and attack cancer and then returning them to the body.

These personalised treatments are designed for patients with blood cancers that no longer respond to conventional therapies. In some cases, CAR-T has delivered lasting remission where disease was once considered incurable.

The challenge of cost and complexity

However, this promise comes with significant challenges. CAR-T therapies can cost over £300,000 per patient, with additional hospitalisation costs of £1,000 to £2,000 per day.

These costs reflect the complexity of manufacturing and clinical delivery, as well as the highly personalised nature of each treatment.

This creates real pressure for publicly funded healthcare systems such as the NHS, where affordability and access remain key concerns. But cost is only part of the picture. Delivering CAR-T involves a complex pathway spanning clinical care, manufacturing, logistics and long-term monitoring, challenges that no single organisation can address alone.

The FAST CAR-T consortium

This is what the FAST CAR-T consortium aims to tackle. Funded by EPSRC and led by UCL, the project brings together researchers from Teesside University, the Royal Free Hospital London and Bristol Business School at UWE to explore barriers to CAR-T delivery and how they can be overcome.

As part of this work, the consortium runs workshops that bring together experts from across the CAR-T ecosystem. These sessions focus on shared barriers, what is needed to scale these therapies and how stakeholders can work together more effectively.

Image of breakout group discussion at the Scaling CAR-T workshop

Key insights from the workshop:

Our most recent workshop, hosted at UWE Bristol, brought together 50 participants from over 18 organisations to focus on clinical delivery, workforce and system readiness.

A clear theme was the growing complexity of the therapy landscape. While CAR-T remains central, new approaches such as tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and regulatory T-cell therapies are expanding into solid tumours, autoimmune diseases and rare conditions.

A complex system around the patient

CAR-T delivery involves multiple stages, from patient identification and cell collection through to manufacturing, infusion and long-term follow-up. Patients may undergo weeks of treatment, including chemotherapy and extended hospital stays.

This is not just clinically complex, it also places pressure on healthcare services, from bed capacity to specialist staff and coordination across teams. As one participant put it,

“this is not a single intervention, it’s an entire system wrapped around a patient.”

The interface between clinical care and manufacturing remains a key challenge. Ensuring chain of identity and chain of custody is essential but logistically demanding, often involving multiple organisations. Limited visibility across the pathway can also make it difficult to identify and resolve issues.

Workforce and infrastructure pressures

Delivering CAR-T requires highly specialised expertise across clinical, manufacturing and pharmacy teams, yet this capability is not evenly distributed. Pharmacists are increasingly involved but may lack formal training in areas such as immunology or cell biology. As demand grows, both training and retention are becoming more challenging.

Infrastructure is another constraint. Even as manufacturing capacity increases, clinical delivery may become the limiting factor. Many centres are already working within limits, whether in bed capacity, specialist facilities or staffing.

At a system level, fragmentation also creates inefficiencies. Different digital platforms, complex contracting processes and regulatory requirements can all slow progress, highlighting the need for greater coordination and standardisation.

What needs to change?

Despite these challenges, several practical solutions emerged from the workshop. The hub-and-spoke model was widely discussed, with specialist centres delivering complex care and regional centres supporting follow-up. This could expand access without duplicating infrastructure.

Participants also highlighted the value of simple improvements such as standardised checklists, shared training and better data transparency.

Digital innovation offers further opportunities. Remote monitoring, wearable technologies and integrated data platforms could improve patient management while reducing pressure on hospitals.

There was also strong support for new hybrid roles and enhanced training pathways to address skills gaps across the system.

Looking ahead

Cell and gene therapies such as CAR-T represent the next generation of advanced medicines, with the potential to deliver more targeted and effective treatments.

However, expanding access is not just a scientific or clinical challenge, it is a systems challenge.

Without change, these therapies may only reach a small proportion of the patients who could benefit.

The next phase of the FAST CAR-T project will focus on translating these insights into practical recommendations and scalable delivery models.

As these therapies continue to evolve, so must the systems that support them. CAR-T has the potential to transform outcomes, but can healthcare and manufacturing systems keep pace and deliver equitable access for patients?

Building a doctoral supervisory community: Insights from the Inception Workshop

Faculty of Business and Law | 26 February 202612 March 2026

By Noëlle Quénivet

On 24 February, supervisors from across the College of Business and Law (CBL) met for the first in a series of workshops titled Building the CBL Doctoral Supervisory Community. Facilitated by Professor Peter Case and Dr Pawel Capik, the College Director of Doctoral Research, the event marked the first step towards fostering a more connected and supportive supervisory community and strengthening supervisory practice within the College.

Why develop a supervisory community?

Doctoral supervision is central to sustaining a healthy and vibrant research culture. Yet many supervisors work in isolation, navigating evolving regulations and changing progression processes largely on their own. The workshop aimed to begin building a community of practice, one that encourages cross-disciplinary exchange, supports both PhD and DBA supervision and promotes consistency and confidence across supervisory teams.

The vision is to create a collegial space where supervisors can share experiences, discuss challenges and collectively enhance the doctoral journey for candidates and staff alike.

The emotional dimension of supervision

The workshop opened with reflections on the often invisible labour of supervision. As Dr Capik noted, while doctoral candidates’ success is celebrated, the contributions of supervisory teams and internal reviewers tend to remain in the background. In his words, “they are the unsung heroes”.

Supervisors undertake multiple roles, ranging from academic guide, gatekeeper, quality controller, motivator to pastoral supporter. All are responsibilities shaped by organisational changes within and beyond the University.

Next, with Professor Case facilitating the workshop, participants took part in a Triad Listening exercise. In groups of three, each person shared a supervisory challenge while colleagues alternated between reporting factual details and identifying the emotional content of the stories being told.

Initially, summarising a complex challenge in three minutes felt daunting. However, the activity quickly revealed valuable insights, particularly the difficulty of separating facts from emotions and the role emotional labour plays in supervision.

Colleagues highlighted issues including managing supervisory team dynamics, supporting students returning from suspension and responding to the emerging use of generative AI in doctoral work. Many participants found the exercise eye-opening. Supervisors often overlook the emotional side of their work, even though it has a significant impact on them, their colleagues and their students.

Shared challenges across disciplines

The second part of the workshop invited participants to discuss which supervisory issues were shaped by disciplinary norms and which were common across CBL. Some discipline-specific elements emerged, including defining “rigour”, setting methodological expectations and selecting appropriate external examiners.

However, most of the identified challenges were shared across disciplines. These included:

Supervising colleagues and navigating role clarity and power dynamics
Balancing support and independence, particularly avoiding undue influence over a student’s theoretical or methodological choices
Clarifying the role of the independent reviewer, especially the balance between quality assurance and academic feedback
Managing boundaries, including the extent of pastoral care and how far supervisors should push students who do not act on feedback
Handling supervisory workloads, especially with multiple candidates at different stages
Impostor syndrome, particularly among junior supervisors or those from practitioner backgrounds

Participants also discussed systemic challenges such as accommodating non-linear research pathways (for example fieldwork or illness) and distinguishing between the expectations of PhD and DBA programmes.

These cross-disciplinary conversations demonstrated that despite differences in methods and norms, supervisory teams share many common pressures, questions and aspirations.

Participants also emphasised the importance of recognising and celebrating what supervisors do well. While the workshop focused largely on challenges, colleagues agreed that future discussions should incorporate elements of “Appreciative Inquiry” to highlight effective practices and successful supervisory relationships.

Moving forward: building the community

The session concluded with proposed next steps for establishing a sustainable supervisory community. Suggestions included:

Storytelling events for sharing supervisory experiences
Developing guidance and resources on good supervisory practice, particularly in relation to supervising colleagues
Discussions on recruitment, supervisory workload and team structures
Exploring what makes the UWE doctoral experience distinctive
Convening a stakeholder workshop to promote dialogue between the CBL supervisory community and representatives of the Doctoral Academy and College research executives

A strong foundation for future collaboration

The workshop was a great success, bringing colleagues together in a friendly and collaborative environment. It allowed participants to share challenges and reflect on the emotional aspects of supervision.

One of the key takeaways was the importance of creating regular opportunities for open dialogue. Most importantly, the workshop set the stage for developing a lasting supervisory community that will empower supervisors, enrich candidates’ journeys and invigorate the research culture of the College of Business and Law.

Using Generative AI for research: Insights from the CBL workshop

Faculty of Business and Law | 20 February 20264 March 2026

On 18 February, more than 30 academics and postgraduate researchers from across BBS and BLS came together for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring how Generative AI (GenAI) can support different stages of the research process. Hosted by Professor Noelle Quénivet and Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, the session was designed to be practical and reflective. It was suitable for colleagues at all levels of experience with GenAI, whether just beginning to experiment or already integrating these tools into everyday research practice.

The workshop set out to demystify GenAI, highlight responsible and ethical use and offer real examples of how colleagues across the College are already using AI tools to streamline their research workflows.

Understanding the landscape: what GenAI can and can’t do

The session opened with an informative presentation from Boudewijn Dominicus (Research Development Manager, Health & Science) and Lindsay McDonagh (Research Development Manager, Creative Technology). They introduced the capabilities of GenAI tools and UWE Bristol’s newly issued Guidance on Generative AI and Large Language Models in Research.

Their talk covered how large language models (LLMs) work, accuracy challenges and common pitfalls, issues around data security, ethics and environmental impact and how funders are responding. They also outlined the policies researchers need to be aware of. UWE’s policy for using AI, specifically Microsoft Copilot, was introduced alongside a clear and memorable framework for effective prompting (RISEN):

R – Role: Give Copilot a specific role
I – Instructions: Provide clear and specific instructions
S – Steps: Break complex requests into manageable steps
E – Examples: Provide examples of desired outputs when helpful
N – Notes: Add important constraints and context

They also shared several practical “pro tips”, including asking the model to rewrite your prompt for clarity, refining prompts iteratively (“multi-shot prompting”) and specifying desired output format, tone or length. They highlighted ways Copilot can support the research funding process, from aligning ideas with call scopes to structuring narratives, editing, tailoring content for different audiences and preparing for interviews.

Exploring ethical questions through scenario-based discussion

Participants then worked in groups to unpack the ethical and legal dimensions of three fictional (but very realistic) scenarios involving GenAI use in research. These discussions encouraged colleagues to reflect on confidentiality, attribution, fairness, transparency and the responsible handling of data when using AI tools.

How researchers are using GenAI right now

One of the highlights of the session was a series of demonstrations from colleagues and PGRs across CBL. Each showcased a different real-world application of GenAI in research practice.

M. Emre Hayyar: Gemini as a learned friend
Emre highlighted the importance of clearly setting boundaries in prompts. Using a powerful “kill-switch” example, he showed how the quality and accuracy of outputs can differ dramatically depending on how a prompt is constructed. His take-home message was clear: LLMs tend to be overly supportive, so ask them to be critical or to take on the role of a supervisor, reviewer or journal editor.

Dr Mike Pollard: using LLMs to build research scenarios
Mike demonstrated how an LLM can act as a research assistant when given detailed and highly specific instructions. He emphasised the importance of fact-checking and refining outputs. He also showed how to instruct the model to exclude certain sources, such as particular years, languages or jurisdictions. He highlighted the need for researchers to reshape and refine generated material themselves to ensure it meets the needs of the task.

Dr Neeti Shikha: from manuscript to conference-ready slides
Neeti shared how she uses Gamma to transform a 5,000-word manuscript into a 15-minute conference presentation. The tool helps create visually engaging, audience-appropriate slides that can be adapted for academics, students or practitioners. She also offered helpful tips for responsible use.

Alexander Grimmig: from annotation to insight
Alex demonstrated how he integrates Zotero, Obsidian and AI tools to annotate, connect and synthesise his notes on journal articles and reports. This combined workflow helps avoid fragmented notes and reduces time spent re-reading papers.

To round off the afternoon, Professor Noelle Quénivet demonstrated how she uses Copilot to draft abstracts and conclusions for journal articles, as well as composite conclusion chapters for books. She closed with an important reminder to always check your target journal’s policy on AI use and disclosure before submitting.

A collaborative and insightful session

Huge thanks go to all the presenters for generously sharing their expertise and to all attendees for their thoughtful contributions and insightful questions throughout. The workshop showed how creatively colleagues are beginning to use GenAI, while also reminding us of the care, ethics and critical thinking required to use these tools responsibly.

The strong engagement across the Business School and Law School demonstrates a genuine appetite for learning how GenAI can enhance, streamline and support high-quality research. We look forward to building on this momentum with further sessions in the months ahead.

PS: For full disclosure, Copilot was used to structure notes taken during this three-hour session and the final version was edited using Copilot.

CBL Research Café brings colleagues together

Faculty of Business and Law | 3 February 20263 February 2026

On Wednesday 21 January, colleagues came together for the first CBL Research Café, a new space designed to connect researchers, share experiences and spark future collaborations. The session welcomed 16 colleagues (including PGR students) from across the Bristol Business School and the Bristol Law School, creating an energising and supportive environment focused on learning from one another.

Breaking the ice with Research Bingo

The café kicked off with a lively game of Research Bingo. Each participant received a 5×5 bingo card filled with academic related activities and tasks. To fill their card, colleagues had to mingle and find others who had completed each activity, encouraging plenty of conversation and cross-disciplinary interaction. The competitive spirit was high! The first four players to shout “Bingo!” walked away with a prize.

Learning from each other’s experience

The bingo didn’t stop there. Participants were then asked to identify two to three activities on their card that they hadn’t done themselves and seek out colleagues who had. These informal conversations prompted valuable discussions about how colleagues approached different research activities, the challenges they faced and practical tips others could learn from.

Mapping researcher profiles

Tetris style puzzle showing how pieces fit together and gaps.

The session then moved into a Researcher Profile Mapping exercise. Attendees ‘ticked off’ activities they had undertaken from a comprehensive list, helping to build a clearer picture of collective strengths and gaps. This exercise will enable Noelle and Sarah-Louise to identify shortfalls and shape future research development and training opportunities and provide a useful reflection for PDR discussions.

Colleagues who didn’t attend the café are welcome to complete the mapping exercise here.

Coming up next…

The feedback from this first Research Café was overwhelmingly positive, with colleagues valuing both the networking and the opportunity for reflection.

The next CBL Research Café will take place on Wednesday 4 March, 12-2pm in Room 4Q008.

Further details will be shared soon – so watch this space!

Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Faculty of Business and Law | 14 January 202615 January 2026

By Dr Issy Bray, Dr Moya Lerigo-Sampson and Dr Yvette Morey

As Australia introduced a “world-first” ban on social media for under-16s last month and political momentum in the UK is building to consider similar action. We ask will such a ban protect young people’s wellbeing or create new risks?

The burden of mental disorders in children and young people is increasing worldwide, a trend certainly worsened by the Covid pandemic. Research points to a range of contributing factors, including intergenerational inequality, climate pressure, insecure work and social media.

While we cannot stop the march of technological progress, the effects of constant exposure to social media during childhood and adolescence remain largely unknown. However many feel strongly that social media, and the use of electronic devices more generally, is detrimental to development and wellbeing for children and adolescents.

Against this backdrop, the Australian government introduced its “world-first” social media ban for under-16s on 10 December 2025. Affecting major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, the ban prohibits new accounts and requires deactivation of existing ones.

What does the ban aim to do?

While Australia’s ban on under-16’s engagement with social media is unlikely to be popular with young people themselves, the establishment is clear that it does not wish to punish young people – the aim is to protect them.

It is the social media companies that are targeted by the new legislation, which imposes monetary penalties if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent minors under 16 from having social media accounts in Australia.

However, the Australian Human Rights Commission has indicated that the legislation is potentially in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Digital Freedom Project, a civil liberties group, has announced that it will take legal action against the new laws, saying they violate the right to political communication.

The double-edged nature of social media

Most technological innovations have positive and negative implications. For example, during the Covid pandemic, social media was widely recognised to be a source of support and a way of connecting with others. At the same time as polarising heated debates around lockdown measures such as school closures and travel restrictions.

For many, unable to get out and enjoy their normal life, it encouraged social comparisons that led to dissatisfaction with their lockdown life and, for a minority, it fuelled body dissatisfaction leading to obsessive exercise regimes or disordered eating behaviours.

How will young people be affected?

The situation is not black and white. The balance between benefit and harm may well depend on who you are and where you live.

Approximately 90% of Australians live in urban centres (covering 0.22% of the land mass). The remaining 10% are dispersed in remote rural and coastal communities separated by huge distances.

For a teenager living in the outback, social media might be an important source of information, friendship and connection with the wider world.

As this ban is implemented it will be important to listen to the experiences of young people of different ages and living in different circumstances, to understand how social connection and loneliness are affected and to ensure that socio-economic inequalities are not increased.

How social media is used matters

More subtly, research suggests that the effects of social media depend on how it is used. For example for keeping in touch with loved ones (referred to as ‘active use’), or for viewing images of people we are less well acquainted with, such as social media influencers (‘passive use’), often with negative consequences such as comparing ourselves to others.

Certain sites are more conducive to passive than active use, but one problem with any attempt to research or regulate the use of social media is the speed at which individual platforms appear and then get overtaken. It is an ever-changing landscape, particularly where digital natives are concerned.

However, the Australian legislation allows the government to determine over time which social media platforms must ban age restricted users, meaning that in theory at least it can respond to the emergence of new platforms and data about who is using them and for what purpose. One possible hitch is that the companies themselves own this data.

Is Australia really a “world-first”?

Is the Australian government’s move as ground-breaking as it seems? In the UK and US, existing under-13 age limits already exist but are poorly enforced. In reality many under 13s have had access to social media (one survey estimated the figure to be 43%).

But as of 25 July 2025, the new Online Safety Act (2023/2025) requires platforms to use ‘age assurance’ methods such as ID checks or facial scans.

Politically, it will surely be easier to enforce existing legislation than to implement a new ban in the UK, but it is likely to require a cultural shift that so far been missing. And while the world watches Australia, we would do well to monitor the effects of this stricter enforcement of our own rules.

Protecting young people from harmful content

Critics argue that there is a less radical way to protect young people and that is to specifically protect them from harmful content.

Research carried out by NSPCC reported that more than one in four children had seen content on Facebook and YouTube that contained suicide, violence, bullying, sexual and other adult themes. Such issues have been highlighted recently by tragic suicides, in which young people have been influenced by online communities and exposed to content giving advice on methods of self-harm, and by conversations about pornography, in which dangerous practices such as choking are portrayed as ‘normal’. Prominent voices are calling for a total ban on such material.

The role of the Online Safety Act

In response to these concerns, the Online Safety Act also makes social media companies responsible for protecting under 18s from harmful content. It states that children must be prevented from accessing pornography or content that encourages, promotes or provides instructions for self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.

Ofcom is now the regulator of online safety and responsible for monitoring how effective companies are at protecting internet users from harm. As yet however, there is little information available about how successfully the Online Safety Act has been enforced.

Screen time, wellbeing and alternatives

A recent survey of 16-21 year olds carried out by Ofcom found that two-thirds spend more than two hours on social media every day.

The majority of respondents said they felt worse about themselves after spending time online and approximately half would prefer to be young in a world without the internet.

Protecting children from harmful online content tackles certain serious threats to young people’s wellbeing, but it will not materially alter the amount of time spent online (for over 13s at least).

There are many who argue that reducing screen time would improve young people’s wellbeing not only because of the content they see online, but because they hope it will encourage more time to be spent outdoors in nature, being physically active and interacting with others without the filter of a screen.

A ban on social media for under-16s is one way of doing that, but there are others. Banning use of phones in schools for example, as some schools have trialled in the UK, or introducing a social media curfew. Our government has so far stopped short of introducing these measures.

When we compare ourselves to Australia, will we begin to see a divergence in trends in mental health concerns of young people following the ban?

Learning from Australia

The acknowledgement that social media can be beneficial for wellbeing, and the insights that research offers into how it can be used more positively, suggest that there may be evidence-based alternatives to an outright ban. Such as education-based initiatives that support social media literacy in families.

Australia’s ban provides a natural experiment from which other governments, including our own, should be willing to learn from to make balanced policy decisions based on the evidence that emerges.

The authors have conducted extensive research on social media, including recent work showing that the lives of influencers are often more demanding than they appear (read more about the study).

Using referencing software

Faculty of Business and Law | 1 December 20251 December 2025

Sarah-Louise Weller and Noëlle Quénivet

Referencing is a cornerstone of academic integrity and scholarly communication. It ensures that ideas are properly attributed, supports the credibility of research and facilitates peer review. In today’s fast-paced research environment, manual referencing is time-consuming and error-prone, making referencing software indispensable.

On 19 November 2025 Sarah-Louise Weller (Director of Research and Enterprise, Bristol Business School) and Noëlle Quénivet (Director of Research and Enterprise, Bristol Law School) organised a training session for colleagues in the College of Business and Law to explore why referencing matters, the benefits of using software, and compare two leading platforms: EndNote and Zotero which were presented by Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar of the Law School.

Importance of referencing

Correct referencing is not just about avoiding plagiarism; it reflects professionalism and respect for intellectual property.

Researchers who fail to reference accurately risk damaging their reputations and being rejected by journals.

Moreover, referencing provides readers with a roadmap for verifying sources and exploring further readings, thereby strengthening academic discourse. From a REF perspective, supporting arguments with credible, easily verifiable evidence certainly bolsters these arguments and enhances the rigour of the output. Clear and precise citations allow for greater transparency and reproducibility in research, both of which are vital to research integrity.

Importance of using the journal referencing system

Proper referencing is essential for meeting journal guidelines, as it not only facilitates the submission process but also enhances the likelihood of a manuscript’s acceptance. While some journals use unique styles, leveraging referencing software can help manage these variations effectively.

Standardised references help the peer review process by providing clear, comprehensive information about sources. It not only helps reviewers evaluate the work on its merits but also gives the manuscript a professional appearance, suggesting it is a finished product rather than a draft. This signals that the author values accuracy and takes the writing process seriously.

Challenges of not using referencing software

Manual referencing is error-prone and time-consuming, with risks like misspelt author names, incorrect dates and formatting mistakes. Cross-referencing footnotes manually often requires repeated checks, while switching citation styles for different journals can take hours and introduce new errors. These tasks waste valuable research time.

In contrast, referencing software automates citation and bibliography creation, allows quick style changes and integrates with word processors, saving effort and reducing mistakes.

Referencing generators v referencing managers

Referencing generators quickly create individual citations for short papers but lack long-term storage, requiring repeated entry. They mainly support styles like Harvard, APA and Chicago. Some cannot handle primary legal sources.

In contrast, referencing managers like EndNote and Zotero offer comprehensive solutions: they store and organise references, integrate with word processors, automate citation and bibliography creation, enable collaboration and sync across devices, which is ideal for large projects and consistent referencing.

EndNote and Zotero

Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar introduced Endnote and Zotero, two popular tools, each offering unique features.

EndNote excels in managing large libraries, supports PDF annotation and offers AI-assisted summarisation. It integrates seamlessly with Thomson Reuters journals, enabling quick imports. Users can create multiple libraries, share group libraries and switch citation styles effortlessly. With over 7,500 styles and community-driven customisation, EndNote ensures compliance with (legal) journal standards. The downside is that EndNote is paid software, which may be costly for individual researchers.

Zotero, in contrast, is free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone. It supports PDF annotation, tagging and categorisation, enabling flexible organisation. Zotero allows migration between platforms, supports footnotes and provides cloud backup options. Its intuitive interface and ability to refresh references make it ideal for collaborative and long-term projects. While it is free and user-friendly, excellent for collaboration and adaptable for various citation styles, it has limited free storage.

Practical tips for researchers

Choosing between EndNote and Zotero depends on budget, project size and collaboration needs. EndNote is suitable for large-scale, institutional projects that require advanced features and style compliance. Zotero is ideal for individual researchers or teams looking for flexibility and affordability.

Some of the tips shared by Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar included always backing up libraries to prevent data loss, understanding style requirements (particularly concerning primary sources in law), starting early to avoid last-minute changes, using tagging and categorisation for efficient document retrieval, and exploring tutorials and community forums for troubleshooting and advanced features.

Conclusion

Referencing software is now essential: it ensures accuracy and professionalism in research. Both EndNote and Zotero enable scholars to manage citations effectively, saving time and minimising errors. By using these tools, researchers can focus on producing high-quality work rather than struggling with formatting issues. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual needs, but adopting any referencing software is a step towards improved research practices.

Bristol Business School Hosts the South Gloucestershire Business Show 2025

Faculty of Business and Law | 27 November 202527 November 2025

Bristol Business School was proud to host the South Gloucestershire Business Show 2025 at UWE’s Conference Centre on 19 – 20 November 2025. The two-day event brought together businesses, community partners and industry experts for discussion, networking and practical learning. The sessions focused on innovation, sustainability, leadership and regional growth.

As part of UWE Bristol’s commitment to supporting business and enterprise across the region, 16 Bristol Business School academics delivered workshops, keynote sessions and panel contributions with the aim of sharing research-informed insights directly with local organisations.

Programme Highlights

The event included a rich programme of sessions led by Business School colleagues. Across the two days, attendees engaged with topics ranging from AI and decision-making to the psychology of customer behaviour, sustainable business models, coaching-led leadership and the future of employee ownership. Workshops and talks were delivered by:

Dr Alison Miles – Rethinking success and sustainability in turbulent times

Dr Christopher Lipp – AI Orchestration for Better Business Decisions

Dr Tom Bowden-Green – Why customers do what they do

Professor Mario Vafeas and Dr Ed Little – Workplace alienation and employee ownership

Professor Mario Vafeas and Ellen Parkes – Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Collaborating for growth

Briony Whitaker – Rethinking sustainability and the importance of context

Dr Karine Mangion-Thornley – From Manager to Coach

Professor Peter Bradley and Dr Basil Omar – Understanding business models for sustainability

Professor Carol Jarvis and Dr Kay Galpin – (Un)leadership from everywhere

Each session offered practical takeaways for SMEs and provided space for dialogue with academics actively engaged in research and practice across the fields of management, sustainability, innovation and organisational development.

Strengthening Regional Knowledge Exchange

The South Gloucestershire Business Show plays an important role in showcasing the expertise, creativity and resilience of the region’s business community. UWE Bristol was delighted to host this year’s show and to contribute to its programme through the knowledge and experience of Bristol Business School colleagues.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with the South Gloucestershire business community and supporting organisations to innovate, grow and thrive.

Africa Research Showcase: Exploring Collaboration and Innovation Across the Continent

Faculty of Business and Law | 28 October 202531 October 2025

On Wednesday, 22 October 2025, the College of Business and Law (CBL) and the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) came together to host the inaugural Africa Research Showcase held at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus. It was one of the events organised to celebrate Black History Month. Participants joined both in person and virtually from across the continent, including attendees based in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

Setting the Scene

“The inaugural CBL and CASET Africa Research Showcase marks a major milestone in strengthening UWE Bristol’s commitment to Africa-focused, impact-driven research,” said Professor Paschal Anosike, Director of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Opening the event, Professor Anosike stressed that,

“as the continent with the world’s largest vibrant youth population, Africa’s future depends on strong entrepreneurship and digital innovation systems – it cannot create decent jobs without them. Equally vital are accountable governance, resilient healthcare systems, and effective partnerships to realise both Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This Showcase is therefore more than an academic endeavour. It is a platform for collaboration between researchers, practitioners and students across Africa and UWE. Together, guided by our RISE framework, we aim to foster and generate evidence-based knowledge and solutions that drive inclusive growth through cross-continental dialogue and partnerships.”

A Thoughtful Discussion on Research and Impact

Presenters shared fascinating snapshots of their research around the four research areas of CASET. Each presentation reflected a commitment to understanding and addressing Africa’s complex challenges and opportunities, through innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

Panel 1: International development and digital capability:

Dr Lotta Takala-Greenish – Employee-Led/Practice-Based Learning: 4IR Technology in South Africa
Dr Takala-Greenish presented a study looking at the core of economic growth and employee-led problem solving. The study found that whilst technological advancements are reshaping learning environments, their real value lies not in the tools themselves but in their strategic application within new business contexts. There is a growing focus on deep engagement and a nuanced understanding of problems, rather than simply emphasising technology.

Dr Ada Peter – Digital Sovereignty and Capability: Rethinking Africa’s Dependence in the Global Cyber Order
Dr Peter emphasised the need for control over technology, data, and standards that govern critical services and the economy. The continent’s reliance on foreign-owned networks, cloud services and undersea cables was highlighted, which creates vulnerabilities for intelligence harvesting, coercion or disruption.

CEO of FirstCap (Nigeria) Ukandu Eme Ukandu – Fintechs and Digitisation as Catalysts of African Entrepreneurship
Mr Ukandu highlighted the continent’s rapidly growing, youthful population and the shift toward urbanisation and digital payments, with countries like Kenya and South Africa leading the way toward cashless economies. While e-commerce and tech start-ups are creating jobs and driving innovation, he noted that infrastructure gaps remain a key challenge to sustaining this momentum.

Panel 2: Global health and sustainability:

Professor Peter Case – Organisational Development for Health Systems Improvement in Africa
Professor Case’s work focused on malaria control using participatory action research. Peter engages communities and stakeholders to co-design solutions, including task groups and visual tools like drawing to address challenges. Projects highlighted included the OPTiMIX Malaria Study in Cameroon and the LEAD Ubuntu Global Foundation, emphasising a locally driven, collaborative approach.

Professor Richard Bolden – Strengthening Public Healthcare Leadership in Africa (in collaboration with the University of Pretoria)
Professor Bolden explored the challenges and opportunities for leadership, including resource constraints and corruption. He emphasised the need to reimagine leadership at a local level, drawing on African concepts such as ‘Unembeza’, a value system rooted in ethical behaviour, integrity and collective responsibility.

Panel 3: Governance and leadership:

Dr Luke Eda – African Union and Immunity of Heads of State under International Criminal Law
Dr Eda began by stressing that if leaders who commit serious international crimes are not held accountable, wars and injustice are more likely to prevail, thus undermining economic and social development. His presentation offered a historical overview of the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the African Union. He pointed out that the row between the two institutions began around the issue of the immunity of Heads of State.

Professor Gerhard Kemp – Transitional Justice in Africa
Professor Kemp, who also serves on the board of directors of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town (South Africa),highlighted justice’s role in transforming post-conflict societies toward peace and democracy. He emphasised the importance of African-led, context-specific solutions grounded in shared values and how media coverage of major international crimes can shape perceptions of justice and support societal healing.

Panel 4: Entrepreneurship and innovation:

Dr Chisa Onyejekwe – Impact of Inflationary Control Measures on the Economic Rights of Women Microentrepreneurs in Nigeria
Dr Onyejekwe’s presentation focused onthe severe inequalities that result from centrally imposed inflationary control measures on marginalised demographics such as female ‘microentrepreneurs’ in Nigeria. Her research calls for gender-sensitive, context-specific policies whose potential effects on all segments of the population are properly assessed prior to implementation.

Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor – Resilient Entrepreneurship: How Nigerian SMEs Innovate to Survive Uncertainty
Dr Edafioghor asked how do SMEs survive the uncertainty of volatile markets and shifting government policies in Nigeria? What can we learn from this? Drawing on data from 150 SMEs in Lagos, she found that resilience is people-focused and social, with both employees and CEOs contributing through strong networks, supplier relationships and market insights.
CEO of Social Enterprise Ghana Edwin Zu-Cudjoe – Social Entrepreneurship in Africa
Mr Zu-Cudjoe highlighted how social enterprises and innovators can drive both impact and economic transformation. He emphasised that the common myth, that you cannot do good and make money, is challenged by social enterprises, which show that positive social impact and financial sustainability can go hand in hand.

Building Bridges Across Borders and Looking Ahead

The CBL and CASET Africa Research Showcase exemplifies UWE Bristol’s ongoing commitment to equitable, globally engaged research partnerships. By bringing together diverse voices from across disciplines and geographies, this event helped strengthen the bridge between UK-based academics and African scholars and practitioners.

The success of this first Showcase has laid a strong foundation for future collaboration. Plans are already underway to host an even bigger and more ambitious event next year, further expanding the reach of CBL and CASET’s African research partnerships.

In his closing remarks, Professor Paschal Anosike reflected on the energy and engagement shared throughout the session:

“This event shows our shared commitment to building bridges across borders through equitable and globally engaged research. By connecting scholars and industry practitioners from Africa and UWE’s Africa research community, we are turning collaboration into action. We will sustain the momentum by building on this inaugural success with an international conference next year. Our ambition is to further strengthen equal and mutually beneficial partnerships that drive continuous dialogue and action with relevant stakeholders for sustainable transformation in Africa.”

Follow this blog for details of future CBL Africa Research conferences and events in 2026.

Building a Research Identity: Insights from a Collaborative Workshop

Faculty of Business and Law | 21 October 202521 October 2025

By Sarah-Louise Weller and Noëlle Quénivet

On 15 October, a dynamic and thought-provoking workshop titled “Building a Research Identity” was hosted by Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, Director of Research and Enterprise (Business) and Professor Noëlle Quénivet, Director of Research and Enterprise (Law). The two-hour session brought together around 30 colleagues and postgraduate research students from across the College of Business and Law, keen to explore how to shape and strengthen their academic presence.

Understanding Research Identity

The session began by unpacking what a research identity is: its purpose, influence and evolution. Participants reflected on why having a clear research identity matters. A strong identity not only enhances academic impact but also supports collaboration and career progression.

Key elements of a research identity include:

Academic Fingerprint: Your unique combination of skills, knowledge and experiences that distinguish you from others. It reflects your expertise, preferred methods and topics of interest.

Public Narrative of Academic Journey: A compelling story that highlights your professional development, milestones and influences. This narrative helps communicate your growth and engages a wider audience.

Focus, Values, Audience and Aspirations: These define what drives your research, the questions you aim to answer, the principles that guide your work, who it is for and where you want it to lead.

Visibility and Credibility: A strong identity enhances recognition within the academic community and positions you as a credible, thought leader and expert in your field and among your peers.

Attracting Collaborators, Mentors and Funders: Clearly articulating your research identity can draw attention from potential collaborators, mentors and funding bodies to build networks that share your unique vision.

Career Direction and Impact: A defined research identity helps you set goals, stay aligned with your values and measure how your work contributes to your discipline and society.

Using Online Platforms to Showcase Research

The workshop then turned to practical ways of building an online research presence. Participants learned about different platforms and were directed to consider how to use them effectively.

A key distinction was made between essential platforms such as institutional profiles (e.g., on the UWE website) and global identifiers (e.g. ORCID) on the one hand and recommended platforms to support wider engagement such as Google Scholar, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, ResearchGate or SSRN on the other. Some are useful for discovering research and staying informed, while others for showcasing publications or engaging with peers.

Among the key tips that were shared were:

Select your profile platforms wisely
Keep them up to date, post regularly
Connect and integrate your profiles
Track citation metrics
Publicise your profiles

Panel Discussion: Experiences and Tips

Professor James Green (Law), Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, and Professor Noëlle Quénivet shared their own experiences of managing online research profiles. They discussed the benefits and challenges of using Google Scholar, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, ResearchGate and SSRN.

Guest speakers Dr Tom Bowden-Green and Dr Jonathan Gilbert shared how they use LinkedIn, podcasts and newsletters to increase visibility and shape their research brands.

Their advice included:

Be intentional about how you present your work.
Embrace both positive and constructive feedback.
Support and learn from your colleagues – research identity is built within a community, not in isolation.

Reflective Exercises: Defining Your Research Identity

Participants then took part in a practical reflection exercise designed to help them define their research identity in fewer than 21 words. They were asked to:

Describe their research focus.
Explain its significance.
Identify what makes their approach unique.

While many found it challenging, the exercise encouraged clarity and focus, helping participants distil their academic interests into a concise statement. In a peer-sharing activity, colleagues looked up each other’s profiles on Google to spot differences in search results – revealing how others perceive their online presence. Many were surprised by the discrepancies between their self-view and public visibility, highlighting the importance of curating an accurate online identity.

Continuing the Conversation – join our next event…

The next training session, “Using Referencing Software”, will take place on 19 November, 13:00-14:00 in Room 3X109. All colleagues are welcome to attend, please contact Dr Sarah-Louise Weller for details.