Dr Simon Best joined Middlesex University in 2010 following a number of career changes. Simon's first career was 15 years as a chef; this was followed by two years as a Market Researcher and then 28 years as self-employed business owner. During his time as a business owner Simon started businesses in Australia, Papua New Guinea, India and Viet Nam. Simon has extensive networks across a number of countries. Currently Simon leads the Enterprise development hub – EDH@MDX as well as lecturing in Entrepreneurship and small business development.
Qualifications
PGCHE Middlesex University, Hendon, UK, 2011
PhD Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, 2006
Migration Law for Migration Agents, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, 2002
MBA University of the sunshine coast, Maroochydore, Australia, 2000
Justice of the Peace Qual, North Point TAFE, Brisbane, Australia, 1998
BA Adult and Vocational Education, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, 1996
Simon is a Teaching Fellow, and teaching and learning interests are widely set around how people learn. He is particularly interested in disruptive learning and the use of dysfunctional groups to enhance learning.
Modules currently taught:
MGT3193 Business Start-up
MGT4465 Networking for Entrepreneurs
MGT4700 Innovation
Previous modules:
MGT4520 International Entrepreneurship
MBA4712/3 Business Transformation Project
MGT3197 Introduction to Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Simon's research interests are relatively broad but centre around entrepreneurship and enterprising behaviour. He is developing a number of research papers drawing on the data collect through the Enterprise Development Hub at Middlesex University (EDH@MDX).
Current Research Projects:
Best, Simon and Eftimov, Ljupco (2019) Enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation: what this means for the new HRM professional and the new workplace. Dynamic Relationships Management Journal , 8 (2). pp. 3-14. ISSN 2232-5867
Best, Simon (2017) The impact of social capital and cultural knowledge on setting-up and operating a transnational business in Australia. In: ISBE 2017: 40th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference, 08-09 Nov 2017, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Best, Simon (2017) The road to ruin(s): how to utilise historical and cultural resources for the benefit of the community. In: Cultural heritage and Sustainable Development: Economic benefits, social opportunities and policy challenges. Mergos, George and Patsavos, Nikolas , eds. Technical University of Crete, pp. 302-305. ISBN 9789608475243
Galeziowska, Ewa and Best, Simon (2016) Students preferences for experiential learning of innovation: a presentation of the research results of the APInno Project. In: APInno Innovation Creating the Future! Conference, 21-22 Nov 2016, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Best, Simon (2016) The future of work and why we all need to be innovative. In: APInno Innovation Creating the Future! Conference, 21-22 Nov 2016, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Simon has a number of funding bids for research activities. Currently he is working with a consortium of 6 organisations to develop a module on innovation. This is funded by Erasmus Plus.
Other Knowledge Exchange activities are:
Recent conferences:
IEEC Conference 2014 Newcastle University
Via Futuri Conference 2014 Pecs University
Entrepreneurship and homes: policy and practice 2015 ESRC Seminar Series
What must tech clusters outside London do to thrive? 2015 Birkbeck University
In 2011 Simon set up EDH@MDX, a university wide support service that helps staff and student develop businesses ideas. Over 1200 students have engaged with EDH@MDX and from that a number of successful self-employed and small businesses have emerged.
Other activities include:
Link Tutor for Foreign Trade University, Viet Nam
Trustee and Board Member Institute of Small Business and Enterprise
Academic Standards Board Member London College of Business Management and Information Technology
Academic Standards Board Member Compass Education Viet Nam
Teaching Fellow Middlesex University
University Representative on validation panels
