Paul Abbott, PhD Student: Ethical Competence in SMEs

I had previously worked for myself in the filed of general business and management consultancy for over twenty years. I was attracted to the programme offered by Leeds University because of a growing interest and concern for the environment and the role to be played by business in its conservation in the future. My initial aim was to return to consultancy work after my Masters with a change of emphasis to the services I provide.

However, during the course of study, I became (even more) deeply interested in the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. I realised that this is an area that has been studied extensively with respect to large corporations, but is relatively under-researched when applied to small and medium sized enterprises. As such I applied for and was accepted to study for a PhD at Leeds Metropolitan University to investigate the development of ethical competence in SMEs. I have now started my research and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

The Masters course at Leeds University had had a profound affect on my life at this (late-ish) stage of my career. Rather than going back to the world of business consultancy, I am entering the world of academia. The learning gained on the Masters programme has equipped me for this transition. The subject area does not preclude me from returning to the area of business consultancy and in the future I hope to integrate research and teaching with providing advise and consultancy to business, non-governmental organisations and policy makers.