I retired from my last full-time executive roles as Managing Director of BNFL Enterprise and Chairman of Deva Manufacturing Services several years ago.

My Fellowship in 1988 focused on models of small business development in North America and Europe. I took a particular interest in the ways different countries attempted to enable inventions within the university sector to be turned into viable businesses. Having co-authored the first research paper on the problems of managing growth in smaller enterprises, which was published by Insead Business School, Paris, in 1968, I have a long-standing interest in the subject.

My Fellowship enabled me to take an active role in stimulating small business development across north-west England. I was able to do this by founding the Cheshire Business and Innovation Centre, chairing the board of Warrington Business Venture for 21 years, and serving on the board of the Prince's Youth Business Trust. I also established a £2 million investment fund within BNFL Enterprise and founding a series of annual conferences across Europe attended by young business starters from ten countries.

My Fellowship contributed substantially to this work.