Martin John James Beckinsale

Dr. Martin John James Beckinsale is an Associate Professor at the School of Leadership, Management and Marketing, De Montfort University, within the Faculty of Business and Law. He is actively engaged in teaching, research, and leadership, with a strategic focus in 2024 on 60-credit modules and the BAL Artificial Intelligence Trailblazer initiative. He is affiliated with the Centre for Enterprise & Innovation (CEI) and the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME).

Dr. Beckinsale holds a PhD in Strategic Innovation Networks from Aston University, an MSc in Strategic Management of Technology from UMIST, and a BSc (Hons) in Engineering Science and Business Studies from the University of Warwick.

His research centers on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), particularly Ethnic Minority Businesses (EMBs), exploring digital transformation, ICT adoption, innovation management, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in entrepreneurship and business education. He investigates policy issues related to SMEs and EMBs, e-procurement, and operations management, often through action research methodologies. His work emphasizes inclusive business support and supplier diversity.

The recent publications highlight a growing trend toward AI in education and business, digital innovation in SMEs, and the socio-technical challenges of ICT adoption among underrepresented entrepreneurs. His research spans both theoretical frameworks and practical policy applications, with a strong emphasis on real-world impact.

• Best in Track E Winner, ISBE 2007
• Nominated Best in Track E, ISBE 2008
• Nominated Best in Business Support Track, ISBE 2009
• Senior Fellowship (SFHEA), July 2024
• Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), 2017

Dr. Beckinsale supervises PhD and DBA students, including current candidates M. Alakayleh and Zara Fadimatou, and has successfully guided four PhD students to completion. He has secured externally funded research grants, including a project funded by Leicester City Council on diverse small firms. He is an active member of the Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE), serving as Track Chair since 2009 and regularly presenting peer-reviewed work. He also serves as a reviewer for journals such as the International Small Business Journal and the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.

He leads and teaches across multiple modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including Research Methodology, Digital Transformation, Operations Management, and Innovation and Technology Management. He has previously led programs such as the MSc International Business & Management Suite and MSc Air Transport Management.