Reinforcing entrepreneurial resilience amidst sustainable enterprise support: initial insights from a cross-UK pilot study

William Russell; Robert Crammond

Abstract

Resilience and long-term adaptability are becoming increasingly important in entrepreneurship and enterprise support, particularly as businesses respond to climate pressures, economic uncertainty, and broader sustainability challenges (UN, 2015; Korber et al., 2018; OECD, 2021; Lewellyn et al., 2024). These changes are also influencing how entrepreneurship is discussed within policy and support environments. Increasing attention is now being paid to issues such as adaptability, innovation, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability, rather than focusing solely on short-term growth or business survival (Cohen and Winn, 2007; Welter, 2011; Awad et al., 2024). In response, policymakers, universities, and support organisations are placing greater emphasis on how businesses adapt to changing economic, environmental, and societal pressures, alongside the support systems intended to assist these transitions (Crammond and Hyams-Ssekasi, 2024).

At the same time, entrepreneurial ecosystem research has highlighted the broader institutional and environmental conditions that shape entrepreneurship and enterprise development (Isenberg, 2011; Stam, 2015; Crammond, 2024). These include the role of institutions, support structures, networks, intermediaries, and policy systems in influencing entrepreneurial activity and business development (Spigel, 2017; Brown and Mason, 2017; Russell et al., 2025). However, while sustainability is now discussed regularly within policy and enterprise strategies, there remains ambiguity regarding how these priorities are interpreted and experienced in practice by entrepreneurs and support organisations.

This paper draws on a recent qualitative, multi-stakeholder pilot study carried out as part of a wider research project examining enterprise support, sustainability, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Exploratory in nature, the pilot raised several questions around how sustainability and resilience are understood across different entrepreneurial and institutional settings, such as:

• How does enterprise policy support sustainable business development in practice?
• The role of universities and support organisations within entrepreneurial ecosystems?
• Whether enterprise support and learning initiatives build entrepreneurial capability and innovation?
• How tensions emerge between policy ambitions and delivery realities?

Original language	English
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 14 Jul 2026
Event	Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2026 Conference: Resilient and Regenerative Entrepreneurship: Navigating Climate Challenges and the Circular Economy - Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, Ireland Duration: 5 Nov 2026 → 6 Nov 2026 https://www.isbe.org.uk/events/isbe-2026/

Conference

Conference	Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2026 Conference
Abbreviated title	ISBE 2026
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Cork
Period	5/11/26 → 6/11/26
Internet address	https://www.isbe.org.uk/events/isbe-2026/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

entrepreneurship
resilience
sustainable business
enterprise support
pilot study
United Kingdom

Embargoed Document

2026 07 14 Russell et al Resilence accepted
Accepted author manuscript, 83.3 KB
Embargo ends: 07/11/2026 00:00 GMT

Cite this

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title = "Reinforcing entrepreneurial resilience amidst sustainable enterprise support: initial insights from a cross-UK pilot study",

abstract = "Resilience and long-term adaptability are becoming increasingly important in entrepreneurship and enterprise support, particularly as businesses respond to climate pressures, economic uncertainty, and broader sustainability challenges (UN, 2015; Korber et al., 2018; OECD, 2021; Lewellyn et al., 2024). These changes are also influencing how entrepreneurship is discussed within policy and support environments. Increasing attention is now being paid to issues such as adaptability, innovation, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability, rather than focusing solely on short-term growth or business survival (Cohen and Winn, 2007; Welter, 2011; Awad et al., 2024). In response, policymakers, universities, and support organisations are placing greater emphasis on how businesses adapt to changing economic, environmental, and societal pressures, alongside the support systems intended to assist these transitions (Crammond and Hyams-Ssekasi, 2024). At the same time, entrepreneurial ecosystem research has highlighted the broader institutional and environmental conditions that shape entrepreneurship and enterprise development (Isenberg, 2011; Stam, 2015; Crammond, 2024). These include the role of institutions, support structures, networks, intermediaries, and policy systems in influencing entrepreneurial activity and business development (Spigel, 2017; Brown and Mason, 2017; Russell et al., 2025). However, while sustainability is now discussed regularly within policy and enterprise strategies, there remains ambiguity regarding how these priorities are interpreted and experienced in practice by entrepreneurs and support organisations. This paper draws on a recent qualitative, multi-stakeholder pilot study carried out as part of a wider research project examining enterprise support, sustainability, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Exploratory in nature, the pilot raised several questions around how sustainability and resilience are understood across different entrepreneurial and institutional settings, such as: • How does enterprise policy support sustainable business development in practice? • The role of universities and support organisations within entrepreneurial ecosystems? • Whether enterprise support and learning initiatives build entrepreneurial capability and innovation? • How tensions emerge between policy ambitions and delivery realities? ",

keywords = "entrepreneurship, resilience, sustainable business, enterprise support, pilot study, United Kingdom",

author = "William Russell and Robert Crammond",

year = "2026",

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day = "14",

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note = "Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2026 Conference : Resilient and Regenerative Entrepreneurship: Navigating Climate Challenges and the Circular Economy, ISBE 2026 ; Conference date: 05-11-2026 Through 06-11-2026",

url = "https://www.isbe.org.uk/events/isbe-2026/",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Reinforcing entrepreneurial resilience amidst sustainable enterprise support

T2 - Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2026 Conference

AU - Russell, William

AU - Crammond, Robert

PY - 2026/7/14

Y1 - 2026/7/14

N2 - Resilience and long-term adaptability are becoming increasingly important in entrepreneurship and enterprise support, particularly as businesses respond to climate pressures, economic uncertainty, and broader sustainability challenges (UN, 2015; Korber et al., 2018; OECD, 2021; Lewellyn et al., 2024). These changes are also influencing how entrepreneurship is discussed within policy and support environments. Increasing attention is now being paid to issues such as adaptability, innovation, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability, rather than focusing solely on short-term growth or business survival (Cohen and Winn, 2007; Welter, 2011; Awad et al., 2024). In response, policymakers, universities, and support organisations are placing greater emphasis on how businesses adapt to changing economic, environmental, and societal pressures, alongside the support systems intended to assist these transitions (Crammond and Hyams-Ssekasi, 2024). At the same time, entrepreneurial ecosystem research has highlighted the broader institutional and environmental conditions that shape entrepreneurship and enterprise development (Isenberg, 2011; Stam, 2015; Crammond, 2024). These include the role of institutions, support structures, networks, intermediaries, and policy systems in influencing entrepreneurial activity and business development (Spigel, 2017; Brown and Mason, 2017; Russell et al., 2025). However, while sustainability is now discussed regularly within policy and enterprise strategies, there remains ambiguity regarding how these priorities are interpreted and experienced in practice by entrepreneurs and support organisations. This paper draws on a recent qualitative, multi-stakeholder pilot study carried out as part of a wider research project examining enterprise support, sustainability, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Exploratory in nature, the pilot raised several questions around how sustainability and resilience are understood across different entrepreneurial and institutional settings, such as: • How does enterprise policy support sustainable business development in practice? • The role of universities and support organisations within entrepreneurial ecosystems? • Whether enterprise support and learning initiatives build entrepreneurial capability and innovation? • How tensions emerge between policy ambitions and delivery realities?

AB - Resilience and long-term adaptability are becoming increasingly important in entrepreneurship and enterprise support, particularly as businesses respond to climate pressures, economic uncertainty, and broader sustainability challenges (UN, 2015; Korber et al., 2018; OECD, 2021; Lewellyn et al., 2024). These changes are also influencing how entrepreneurship is discussed within policy and support environments. Increasing attention is now being paid to issues such as adaptability, innovation, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability, rather than focusing solely on short-term growth or business survival (Cohen and Winn, 2007; Welter, 2011; Awad et al., 2024). In response, policymakers, universities, and support organisations are placing greater emphasis on how businesses adapt to changing economic, environmental, and societal pressures, alongside the support systems intended to assist these transitions (Crammond and Hyams-Ssekasi, 2024). At the same time, entrepreneurial ecosystem research has highlighted the broader institutional and environmental conditions that shape entrepreneurship and enterprise development (Isenberg, 2011; Stam, 2015; Crammond, 2024). These include the role of institutions, support structures, networks, intermediaries, and policy systems in influencing entrepreneurial activity and business development (Spigel, 2017; Brown and Mason, 2017; Russell et al., 2025). However, while sustainability is now discussed regularly within policy and enterprise strategies, there remains ambiguity regarding how these priorities are interpreted and experienced in practice by entrepreneurs and support organisations. This paper draws on a recent qualitative, multi-stakeholder pilot study carried out as part of a wider research project examining enterprise support, sustainability, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Exploratory in nature, the pilot raised several questions around how sustainability and resilience are understood across different entrepreneurial and institutional settings, such as: • How does enterprise policy support sustainable business development in practice? • The role of universities and support organisations within entrepreneurial ecosystems? • Whether enterprise support and learning initiatives build entrepreneurial capability and innovation? • How tensions emerge between policy ambitions and delivery realities?

KW - entrepreneurship

KW - resilience

KW - sustainable business

KW - enterprise support

KW - pilot study

KW - United Kingdom

M3 - Abstract

Y2 - 5 November 2026 through 6 November 2026

ER -