Steve Ball

Having previously worked in various IT support, development, and management positions within industry and the HE sector, I joined Northumbria University as a Senior Lecturer in 2003. I work in the Leadership & Human Resource Management team within the Faculty of Business & Law.

I combine my research with teaching of leadership and management skills as a catalyst for inspiring innovation and creative thinking within the workplace. I am interested in how using innovative tools and techniques can influence business start-up and growth strategies. 

I am always exploring new advances and innovative methods of teaching, learning, and assessment. I am a keen advocate of embedding appropriate technology enhanced learning (TEL) initiatives, enhancing both teaching, and the student learning experience. My current teaching involves: Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Employability & Career Planning; Work-based Projects.

I have a wide network of small business owners, agencies, and entrepreneurs that I often invite as guest speakers.

My research interests include many aspects of enterprise-related activity, specialising in the effective teaching of entrepreneurship. My initial findings are available via my Research publications. This interest has now scaled into my Professional Doctorate project investigating the impact of enterprise education within the HE sector.

I especially enjoy working with SMEs, and have recently helped deliver the Small Business Charter’s “Small Business Leadership Programme”, aimed at helping SMEs to further develop their Productivity, Resilience, and Sustainability.