CONCERTA: Contribution to Community Enhancement Through Rural Touring Arts

CONCERTA was a national study of the benefits for local community development of a relatively under researched form of creative activity: rural touring arts.


Flexible ethics across space and place: A study of tourists’ ethical food consumption and the tourism industry’s response

This study aims to examine the flexible nature of ethical consumption by understanding how food habits change across space and place. 


Exploring the role of moral norms and neutralisation in environmentally conscious behaviour: The case of UAE Consumers

This research seeks to understand the environmentally conscious behaviour of consumers in United Arab Emirates.   


Corporate Social Responsibility, Gender and Career Capital in the UK Jewellery Industry

Exploring similarities and differences in men and women’s expectations and experiences of jewellery work.


COMODAL - Consumer Models for the Assisted Living Sector

Analysing the electronic Assisted LivingTechnology (eALT) market potential and proposing new business models to take the market forward.


Consumers and Biodiversity Offsets: Exploring Diverse Perspectives of Corporate Responsibility

This study explores consumers normative and ethical preferences with regards to corporate responsibility (CR), and the role of companies in the governance of nature, in order to identify diverse consumer perspectives on CR. 


Ethics of Social Media Research

The centre is currently exploring whether consumers are fully aware of, and concerned with, the common ethical pitfalls in the various types of social media research conducted by marketers and marketing academics, and whether such consumer attitudes and concerns have an impact on consumers’ willingness to take part in social media research.


Developing UK Motorsport: A Supply Chain Analysis

This project maps the supply chains of three areas of motorsport – Formula One, Formula E and Endurance Sports Car Racing – to identify strengths, weaknesses and local economic growth opportunities which may be targeted for economic development support by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), UKTI and BIS. 


The Emotional Power of Eco-Labels: an Exploratory Study of Consumer Emotions Evoked by Eco-Labels and the Effect on Green-Brand Image

This research investigates the emotions evoked by ecolabels and how they impact the brand image and influence consumers’ choices for “green brands”.


Harnessing Growth Sectors for Poverty Reduction: What Works to Reduce Poverty through Sustainable Employment with Opportunities for Progression

Employment has been seen as a key route out of poverty, however there are also increasing concerns about the prevalence of in-work poverty in the UK. The proposed research seeks to fill a gap in evidence about 'what works' in harnessing growth sectors for poverty reduction.


From the East End of London to the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro: The relevance and transferability of the social legacy programmes of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LONRIO)

Project findings highlight how clear communication with the local community and proper inclusion in the planning and implementation phases can potentially greatly improve the satisfaction levels of the host community with regard to the event and the legacies it may bring.


Sustainable cut-flowers project

Between 2015 and 2019 Dr David Bek and Dr Jill Timms managed externally funded projects examining different facets of sustainability within the global cut-flower industry.


Tackling Financial Exclusion: data disclosure and area-based lending

In 2013, the UK launch of the voluntary framework for disclosure of bank lending data was a significant step forward in creating transparency about the provision of banking services at a geographic level. This project assessed the first three quarterly releases of this major new development in data disclosure.


Responsible Business Practices in SMEs: the case of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter

Using the context of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, this exploratory study aims to understand how SMEs integrate responsibility into their everyday business practice and consumer attitudes to jewellery consumer social responsibility (CSR).


Promoting ethical flowers for improved working conditions in supply chains: The disconnect between increased certification and poor purchaser knowledge

This project examined how the promotion of ethical flowers can contribute to improved working conditions in supply chains.


Investigating the Scale and Structure of the Wild Flower Harvesting Industry in South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region

This three year project will address challenges such as supply chain transparency by providing insights into the scale and structure of the wild harvesting industry in The Cape Floristic Region (CFR).


Warwickshire Rural Electric Vehicle Trial (WREV)

The 'Warwickshire Rural Electric Vehicle' (WREV) trial was designed to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural Warwickshire in examining their options for switching to electric vehicles (EVs).


Understanding barriers to Electric Vehicle adoption amongst mass market car drivers

Within the context of government policy regulating against the sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles within the next two decades, the project sought to understand how ready the mass market is to transition to electric vehicles (EVs).


New Business Models for Intelligent Transport Systems (NEWBITS)

The NEWBITS project provided a deep understanding of the changing conditions and dynamics that affect and/or influence Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) innovations, informed by 4 case studies from successful ITS implementations in transport.


Sustainable Practices make Sustainable Businesses

Dr David Bek led a project exploring how the implementation of sustainable practices helps businesses to be more resilient, productive and profitable. The project focused upon the horticultural sector in South Africa.