Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC)

Organisation profile

Established in 2007, CLEC undertakes research around entrepreneurship and management skills, innovation and economic development, and related policy related issues. It is also the delivery vehicle for the 20Twenty Leading Business Growth Programme, which began as a large scale European-funded research and delivery programme on SME management skills development. Members of CLEC also provide policy evidence (Welsh Government, UK Industrial Strategy) on a regular basis.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Nick Clifton
- Cardiff School of Management - REF Co-ordinator Professor
- Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC)
- Regional Innovation & Regeneration Centre (RIRC)
Person: Academic
20012026
Brian Morgan
- Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC)
Person: Academic
20142019
Selyf Morgan
- Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre (CLEC)
Person: Academic
20192019

33 Article
4 Commissioned report
2 Chapter
2 Conference contribution
More

Introducing exaptation theory to social enterprise innovation: case study on the Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) project
Liu, Z., James, S., Samuel, A., White, G. R. T., Beverley, K., Clifton, N. & Walpole, G., 13 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy. p. 1-20 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
National Workforce Research Plan Sport & Physical Activity Sector.
Osborne, S., Patil, P., Wright, P., Anupam, A. & Clifton, N., 26 Apr 2026, Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Research output: Working paper › Preprint

Open Access
File
Beyond Direct Expenditure: Rethinking Event Evaluation through the UEFA Champions League Finals
Jaimangal-Jones, D., Clifton, N., Haven-Tang, C. & Rowe, S., 11 Nov 2025, In: Event Management.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Consultancy
4 Examination
4 Other
2 Invited talk
More
- 1 Oral presentation

Redefining Workspaces? Spatial implications of remote working and the potential for local coworking’
Clifton, N. (Speaker)
11 Mar 2026
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk

File
Co-producing Circular interventions for Cardiff
Clifton, N. (Consultant) & Walpole, G. (Consultant)
1 Feb 2026 → 30 Sept 2026
Activity: Consultancy
Cardiff Council Scrutiny - Place Based Economic Interventions Place Based Economic Interventions Task Group Inquiry
Clifton, N. (Participant)
21 Nov 2025
Activity: Other

Outstanding PGR Supervisor of the Year (2023)
Clifton, N. (Recipient), 12 May 2023
Prize
 Best paper at the Society of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity (July 12~15, 2023, Naples) "Implementing circular economy: Experience from Wales” (with Zheng Liu, Gary Walpole, Homeira Faqdani).
Clifton, N. (Recipient), Walpole, G. (Recipient), Faqdani, H. (Recipient) & Liu, Z. (Recipient), 15 Jul 2023
Prize
 Best paper in the Networks and Innovation Track at the 34th ISBE (Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship) for “Knowledge Sourcing by Small Firms: The Internationalization of Networks” (with Robert Huggins, 2011).
Clifton, N. (Recipient) & Huggins, R. (Recipient), 8 Nov 2011
Prize