Lynn Oxborrow

Professor Lynn Oxborrow is a leading academic and practitioner in Sustainable Small Business Growth at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University. She specializes in supply chain management, particularly in the fashion and creative industries, and has spearheaded projects like the Big House initiative to enhance SME competitiveness. Her role includes programme leadership for Help to Grow: Management and directing high-impact EU-funded projects such as Future Factory and Enabling Innovation.

Her career spans over three decades, beginning as a Research Fellow in textile economics before progressing to academic leadership roles. Dr. Oxborrow holds a DBA focused on UK Apparel Supply Chains (2015) and has collaborated internationally on studies comparing creative industries in Europe and the US. She actively engages with SMEs through training, policy research, and sustainability initiatives, including her leadership in the WRAP Sustainable Clothing Action Plan.

Research interests include sustainable supply chain practices, clothing longevity, and the challenges faced by SMEs in global markets. She has secured £4.3M in grants and leads interdisciplinary teams across academia and industry. External roles include chairing WRAP’s Design for Clothing Life Working Group and advising regional sector strategies.

Key projects include the Creative and Digital Industries Sector Development Plan for D2N2, and research into pop-up retail strategies for women entrepreneurs. She bridges academic research with real-world impact through action-based training and policy advocacy.