Entrepreneurship for Coastal Resilience: “Blue” Entrepreneurship Education to Revitalise UK Coastal Communities

This proposed PhD project investigates how entrepreneurship education can be designed and implemented to support the revitalisation of UK coastal communities. It aims to develop a place-based framework for entrepreneurship education that fosters sustainable, inclusive economic development in regions facing socio-economic decline and environmental challenges and involves multiple stakeholders in coastal regions.

Many UK coastal communities face persistent economic and social challenges, including seasonal employment, youth outmigration, and underinvestment (Coastal Communities Alliance, 2025). At the same time, the Blue Economy, described as “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem” (Vierros and De Fontaubert, 2017, p. 6) and encompassing sectors such as marine tourism, aquaculture, offshore renewables, and ocean (bio)technology (e.g., Pakseresht et al., 2025; Spalding, 2016), offers untapped potential for sustainable growth and the creation of new ventures (e.g., Zhu et al., 2023). Entrepreneurship education, broadly defined as “courses and programs in entrepreneurship” (Hägg and Gabrielsson, 2020, p. 829), aiming to drive startup entrepreneurship, employability, and economic growth (Decker-Lange et al., 2024), has been shown to empower individuals and communities. However, current models often lack contextual sensitivity to the unique needs and assets of coastal regions and the Blue Economy. This project addresses this gap by exploring how tailored entrepreneurship education can catalyse local innovation and resilience.

Research Objectives:

• Map the entrepreneurial landscape in selected UK coastal communities, identifying barriers and enablers to Blue Economy ventures, including commercial and social enterprises.

• Evaluate existing entrepreneurship education models and their applicability to coastal regions and communities.

• Co-design and pilot educational interventions with local stakeholders, including universities, councils, and community organisations.

• Develop a strategic framework for place-based entrepreneurship education that supports coastal revitalisation.

The project may use case studies, stakeholder engagement, and participatory methods to co-create entrepreneurship education tailored to UK coastal communities, in partnership with local and national networks. It aligns with national priorities around levelling up, net zero, and coastal regeneration. It offers practical insights for policymakers, educators, and community leaders seeking to build resilient, future-ready coastal economies.

References:

Coastal Communities Alliance. (2025). Reviving Britain's Coast – Why It’s Time to Help Communities on the Edge. https://www.coastalcommunities.co.uk/ (accessed 21 July 2025). Decker-Lange, C., Lange, K., & Walmsley, A. (2024).

How does entrepreneurship education affect employability? Insights from UK higher education. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 30(5), 1249-1269. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijebr-08-2023-0856 Pakseresht, A., Kermani, A., Decker-Lange, C. 2025.

Towards a sustainable and circular blue bioeconomy: A scoping review. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 216, 124157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124157 Vierros, M., De Fontaubert, C. 2017.

The potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing long-term benefits of the sustainable use of marine resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries. Washington: World Bank https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/pzzwzx (accessed 23 March 2025). Zhu, B., Liang, C., Mirza, N., Umar, M. 2023.

What drives gearing in early-stage firms? Evidence from blue economy startups. Journal of Business Research, 161, 113840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113840

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

  1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
  2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
  3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Carolin Decker-Lange - I am a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Brunel Business School (BBS) that I joined in February 2023. Previously, I held academic positions at The Open University, UWE Bristol Business School, the University of Bremen (Germany), and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany). I passed a PhD in Management and a post-doctoral lecture qualification (“Habilitation”) at Freie Universität Berlin (Germany). My interests in research and teaching are at the intersection of strategy and entrepreneurship, including corporate restructuring, interorganisational relationships, family business governance, innovation in SMEs, and entrepreneurship education. I am a Visiting Research Fellow at the German Maritime Museum – Leibniz Institute for Maritime History in Bremerhaven (Germany). This fellowship allows me to explore the Blue Economy from a multidisciplinary perspective.