Hi, I’m Alison. I am an academic, author and business trainer based at the Bristol Business School (Univeristy of the West of England) where I am also programme director for Help to Grow management. I work with leaders from around the world helping them lead authentically, with passion and purpose. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
My work:
Training and workshops:
I am programme director for the ‘Help to Grow’ Business programme at the Bristol Business School. This 12 module programme covers all areas of business and is subsidised by the UK Government. For more details, please see: Help to Grow Management
Leading SMEs: This project looks at how SME leaders deal with life work balance, and how our beliefs shape our businesses. It includes tools and reflection to help leaders reframe their relationship with their businesses. If you would like to know more or become involved, please email me: alison3.miles@uwe.ac.uk
My research is interdisciplinery linking leadership and entrepreneurship with economics and neuroscience (and occasionally physics) to explore issues facing leaders of SMEs.
I am particularly interested in how we deal with life work balance, stress and how our beliefs shape our businesses. More details on my current projects can be found below:
Current projects:
Wiltshire Broadband Impact Evaluation project: This report looks at how superfast Broadband is impacting rural communities and business in the South West.
Southwest Rural SME Recruitment Evaluation and Impact project:Working with a leading South west College, this project explores the nature and impact of SME recruitment issues in the Southwest.
Latest papers:
Miles, A. Williams, L: ‘A Case for a Caring Approach – How SME leaders can benefit for a caring economic approach‘ International Studying Leadership Conference (2024)
Previous projects:
I was delighted to work with the Federation of Small Businesses on the ‘Vision for South West Towns’ report which can be downloaded here: A Vision for South West Towns
Books and Book Chapters:
Miles, A. (2021) Challenges of using Action Research to Explore the Issues facing Leaders of SMEs in South West Towns Post Covid-19 Sage Research Methods: Business
Miles, A. (2023) Using Secondary Data to Assess Leadership Influence in the Success and Failure of Firms Sage Research Methods: Business.
Policy papers:
My PhD research looked at the leadership influence of the board in the success and failure of financial institutions. As a result of this work, I submitted evidence to the Hourse of Commons Treasury Committee ‘Women in Finance’ report 2017-19. I was also a speaker and panel Chair for the Westminster Forum Keynote Seminar: Culture and Conduct in Financial Serivces 2018.
I have written for business magasines and contributed to online learning platforms:
Miles, A. ‘Authentic leadership drives success‘ Edge Magazine Yule 2018. Institute of Leadership and Management.
Miles, A. (2021) ‘Quantitative Data Collection‘ chapter (part of Quantitative Research methods), for Studious RyZE platform
Miles, A. (2019) ‘The Dark side of financial innovation’. FS Focus Magasine
Miles, A, (2018) ‘The Big idea – CEO influence in success and failure of global banks’ FS Focus
Dr Alison Miles 