Nicholas Wilson

Nicholas Wilson is Professor of Credit Risk and Finance at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds, where he also serves as Director of the Credit Management Research Centre. He has played a key leadership role, including as Head of Department from 2017 to 2021, and is a founding member of the Leeds Institute of Data Analytics.

His research spans credit analytics, corporate finance, SME funding, venture capital, private equity, and the application of AI and machine learning in financial decision-making. He investigates financial distress, equity gaps, government loan schemes (including Covid-era interventions), and regional disparities in access to finance. His work bridges academic rigor with real-world policy impact, particularly in shaping UK and EU financial regulations and innovation funding strategies.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on financial resilience during crises, performance of private equity-backed firms, credit risk modeling using AI, and the evaluation of public policy interventions in business finance. Themes of innovation, data analytics, and policy relevance dominate his scholarly output.

• 2006 University of Leeds, Knowledge Transfer 'Certificate of Outstanding Achievement'
• 2007 ESRC Prize for the best Knowledge Transfer Partnership
• 2021 University of Leeds, Research Impact Case Study Award
• 2025 University of Leeds, Research Impact Excellence – Leader Award

Nicholas Wilson has supervised over 20 PhD students and is Principal or Co-Investigator on major UKRI, ESRC, and Innovate UK projects, including the ESRC Productivity Project (ES/W010259/1) on SME finance and productivity. His research has directly influenced government policy, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Industrial Strategy’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. He advises HM Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, and other public bodies on business finance forecasting and modeling.

He leads the Credit Management Research Centre and contributes to the Consumer Data Research Centre and the ESRC Productivity Institute. His work is integral to understanding how access to finance shapes firm growth and national productivity.