Dr Eva Kašperová

Email: [email protected]

I am a Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, Aston Business School. I previously held academic roles at Manchester Metropolitan University, and in the Small Business Research Centre, Kingston University London. 

• PhD Business and Management, Kingston University London
• MRes Management and Social Science, King's College London

My research focuses broadly on self-employment, entrepreneurship and small business management. I have a particular interest in inclusive entrepreneurship – or enabling new venture creation and innovation among under-represented and disadvantaged groups – and inclusive enterprise policy and support. I have collaborated on over 20 research projects on related topics, including:

• Migrant participation and inclusion in local policy-making
• Community organising as a mechanism for empowering migrant entrepreneurs
• Responsible innovation and transformational entrepreneurship
• Barriers faced by ethnic minority businesses in the UK
• The impact of UK’s welfare reforms on disabled self-employed people
• Entrepreneurial identity and legitimacy
• Small business resilience to crises

ESRC Impact Escalator Individual Award (2024-25): Advancing the UK’s capacity to support migrant participation in civic, political and public life.

Aston University Research Impact Fund - Rapid Response Award (2023-24): Understanding migrants’ experiences of civic and political participation, and local support needs in the city of Birmingham.

European Union-funded MILE (Migrant Integration Through Locally Designed Experiences) project (2022-23): Understanding how local authorities include migrants in policy-making and co-creating migrant consultative bodies.  

NatWest Group-sponsored review of the barriers faced by the UK’s ethnic minority businesses in accessing support, finance and wider product markets (2021-22).

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership-funded Business Leaders Project (2016-2022): Exploring the potential of community organising to engage with, support and empower migrant entrepreneurs in deprived city areas.