Tom Williamson

Tom Williamson is currently Assistant Principal at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Peterborough, overseeing the Faculty of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Faculty of Creative and Digital Arts and Sciences. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and certified as a Management & Business Educator (CMBE) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS).

• PhD in Entrepreneurship, Coventry University (2015)
• PGCert in Higher Education Professional Practice, Coventry University
• BA (Hons) in Human Resource Management, Coventry University

Tom's research focuses on the role of universities in supporting start-ups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs. His expertise spans enterprise education, regional development, business incubation, and pedagogic innovation. He actively contributes to policy discussions on entrepreneurial equity, including his leadership role in The Lilac Review, which addresses inequality faced by disabled founders in the UK.

His recent publications include studies on cash management strategies in Scandinavian firms, sustainable university-led support systems for MSMEs, and longitudinal analyses of entrepreneurial intent among undergraduate students. He has also led international educational missions to Japan and contributed to the Small Business Charter's initiatives.

• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE) with the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)
• Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA)
• Best Paper Award (2019, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship)
• Best Paper Nominee (2019, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship)

Tom supervises research in entrepreneurship, regional development, and enterprise education. He serves on the management board of the Small Business Charter and co-founded Lilac Review, an independent government-backed initiative to promote equitable opportunities for disabled entrepreneurs. His work bridges academic practice with industry engagement, emphasizing innovation and small business support.