Dr Liz Heyworth-Thomas was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School in 2023. A researcher of entrepreneurship, sociology, and social policy, Liz has a broad enterprise engagement profile and is well-networked across the business, social science, and health science disciplines in the UK and Internationally.

After graduating from Bangor University, Liz has built a successful academic career across UK Business Schools, including Cumbria Business School, Wolverhampton Business School, and Liverpool Business School, where she held a Lectureship, Senior Lectureship, and Principal Lectureship [Reader] positions.  

With fond memories of studying at Bangor University, Liz welcomed the opportunity to return to Bangor University, where she has taken on the role of College Director of Employability. She founded The Business Clinic at Bangor Business School of which she is the current Director, and holds responsibility for modules: Consultancy Project, Trends in Marketing, Dissertation, Applied Project,  and Management Coordination & Control, as well as Doctoral supervision at Bangor University and Liverpool Business School.

  • Professional: Senior Fellowship
    Higher Education Academy, 2021
  • PhD: Sociology and Social Policy [Thesis Title: Living with Stroke: a Wales Context]
    2018
  • MA: Business and Marketing
    2011
  • BA: [Hons] Business and Social Administration
    2009

Liz is an interdisciplinary researcher, within the subjects of entrepreneurship, sociology, and social policy.  With strong business engagement and collaboration with researchers around the world, Liz has built a reputable research profile with industry and academic contributions in her research field. 

Her recent work includes business owner wellbeing, rural social enterprise leadership and support, farm business, food and beverage enterprise, quantum physicist spin-out, and businesses in the outdoor sector, and lived experience.

Academic Publication Record

Jones, R., Morrish, S. C., Heyworth-Thomas, E. M., & Graham, E. (2023). Post-Pandemic Marketing: Use of Business Crisis Recovery Frameworks to Enhance Entrepreneurial Marketing Education. Journal of Marketing Education, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/02734753231190249

Heyworth-Thomas, E.M. (2023). The Simulation Game: creating an experiential learning experience within a taught setting, Journal of Applied Work Management.  

Heyworth-Thomas, E.M., Hyslop, K., and Jones, R (2022). Entrepreneurship and Societal Change, in Hyams-Ssekasi, D. (Eds.) Understanding Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Change Perspective, Palgrave.

Jones, R., Heyworth-Thomas, E.M., Henley, A., and Jones, W. (2022).  Sustainability and Resilience of Rural Enterprise in Areas of Outstanding Natural

Beauty: Challenges and Barriers to increasing Entrepreneurial Opportunity post-pandemic.  ISBE Conference, November 2022 (accepted).

Heyworth-Thomas, E.M. (2021). Social Enterprise: a sustainable model for supporting vulnerable adults in rural communities. AM Entrepreneurial and Small Business Marketing SIG 25th Symposium – December 2021

Heyworth-Thomas, E,M., Foster, S., and Jones, R. (2021).  Business Owner Wellbeing: the hidden impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. AM Entrepreneurial and Small Business Marketing SIG 25th Symposium – December 2021

Jones, R., and Heyworth-Thomas, E.M. (2021). Being Enterprising in Beautiful Landscapes: how can governments and policy makers best support rural enterprise? ISBE Conference, October 2021.

Heyworth-Thomas, E.M (2020).  Interviewing vulnerable service-user groups: Biographical Narrative Interpretive Method– invited to present at Telling the Story of Business Conference, University of South Wales-January 2020.

Heyworth-Thomas, E. M., and Jones, R. (2019) Social Enterprise: bridging the gap between statutory and third sector. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 20, No. 2: 80-89.

Wiscombe, C., Heyworth-Thomas, E. M., Ryder, S., Maynard, L., and Dobson, C. (2017). Social Enterprise and the Rural Landscape, in Oriade, A., and Robinson, P. (Eds.) Rural Tourism and Enterprise: Management, Marketing and Sustainability. CABI Tourism Texts.

Heyworth, E.M., and Jones, R (2014). Social Enterprise: bridging the gap between the statutory sector and the third sector, ICSB World Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Conference, June 2014.

Heyworth, E.M., Jones, R., and Roach, D (2013). Providing Support in Rural Wales: motives, observations and end-user perspectives, ISBE Conference, November 2013.

Heyworth, E.M  (2013). Improving Student Engagement through use of Online Resources, HEA Teaching and Learning Conference, Bangor University, April 2013.

Heyworth, E. M., Jones, R., and Rowley, J (2011). Meeting the Demand: the study of a business support network, ISBE Conference, November 2011.

Self-funded or willing to work towards a funding bid

2024

2023

2022

2021

2019

2017

  • PublishedSocial Enterprise and the Rural Landscape
    Wiscombe, C., Dobson, C., Heyworth-Thomas, E., Maynard, L. & Ryder, S., 2 May 2017, Rural Tourism and Enterprise: Management, Marketing and Sustainability. CABI Publishing, 68 p.
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2025

  • Staff Enterprise Development Fund

    Promote sustainable enterprise education and socially responsible entrepreneurship for staff and students across the Bangor Business School.

    24 Feb 2025 – 30 Jun 2025

    Activity: Other (Contributor)
  • Principal Investigator: Benchmarking, Critical Success Factors, and Network Support for Quantum Technology physicist-led spin-outs, in collaboration with Professor Mike Holynysiki [Quantum Hub, University of Birmingham], and Professor Rosalind Jones [Bangor Business School].  Award: [Partnership Research Fund] EPSRC grant
  • Co-Investigator: An empirical exploratory analysis of how food and drink businesses in the UK can develop dynamic capabilities for innovation and resilience through lessons learned from disruptive events, in collaboration with Dr Adehunle Oke, Leeds Beckett, and Faith Jeremiah, Lincoln University, New Zealand. Award: ISBE RAKE.

Liz holds the following external appointments:

  • Co-Chair of the Academy of Marketing's Entrepreneurship and Small Business Marketing Special Interest Group
  • Co-Chair of the Institute for Small Business and Entrerpreneurship Early Career Researcher/Academic Forum
  • External Examiner at Ulster University
  • Board Member of the Wales Intergenerational Steering Group
  • Director of Mountain Training Cymru
  • Guest Author of The Professional Mountaineer magazine

Liz has also been invited to host workshops for outdoor business entrepreneurs at events such as the British Nordic Walking CIC Annual Conference, the Mountain Training Association Conference, and the Women in Mountaineering Conference.

  • Winner Lecturer of the Year 2021 – John Moores Students Union
  • Nominee for the 2018 Vice-Chancellor Awards for Staff Excellence, Innovative Teacher category
  • Shortlisted Lecturer of the Year 2017 – Wolverhampton University Students Union