Bianca's research interests include small businesses, (social) entrepreneurship and equality issues in the labour market. She has specialist knowledge on the subject of maternity and paternity at work across the world, and has recently undertaken related research in Ghana, South Africa and Malaysia. Her ILO funded study on maternity protection at work in Ghana focused on small firms in the informal economy and the most vulnerable women workers. Bianca also recently studied workplace supports for breastfeeding in South Africa, with a particular focus on low paid workers. Another key stream of her work is related to social enterprise. Recent projects include studies on the role of community businesses in providing health and wellbeing services and ‘good work’, and on alternative social enterprise models for delivering health and social care public services. Funders of her work have included the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the European Commission. As part of her work, she has been advising multiple stakeholders, including employers, trade unions, governments, international organizations and NGOs. Bianca leads the Middlesex University Gender & Diversity Research Cluster, the International Committee of the US-based Work and Family Researchers Network, and is a member of the Maternity Protection Committee of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Qualifications
Here is a 1-minute video of some of my recent research
Bianca is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her Teaching interests include small business and (social and gendered) entrepreneurship; equality, diversity and inclusion; HRM and research methods.
PhD Research Training
HRM4030 - Research Methods
HRM3011 - Contemporary Issues in HRM
HRM4415 - Research Methods
SOC4100 - Research Design and Ethics
MGT3999 - Research Project
MGT3193 - Business Start-Ups
MGT2321-6/MGT2421 - Principles of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Public Outputs from Research
Recent Journal Articles
Stumbitz, B., Lewis, S. and Rouse, J., (2018). Maternity management in SMEs: a transdisciplinary review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2), pp.500-522. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12143.
Stumbitz, B., Lewis, S., Kyei, A.A. and Lyon, F., (2018). Maternity protection in formal and informal economy workplaces: The case of Ghana. World Development, 110, pp.373-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.06.007.
Published Peer-reviewed Reports
Clayton-Hathway, K. and Stumbitz, B. (2020). Racing Home – Working mothers in the horseracing industry. Oxford: Oxford Brookes University. Available at: Racing Home: working mothers in the horseracing industry
Stumbitz, B. (2019). Maternity Leave Legislation in Support of Breastfeeding – Case Studies Around the World. Geneva: WHO and UNICEF. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/maternity- leave-legislative-in-support-of-breastfeeding---case-studies-around-the-world.
Lyon, F., Stumbitz, B., Vickers, I. (2019). Social Enterprises and their Ecosystems in Europe – Country Report for the UK. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available at: https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/07273562-75f8-11e9-9f05- 01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-99411427 .
Garg, A., McColl, A., Stumbitz, B., Fisher, D., Cashin, J., Rempel, J., Rempel, L. Levtov, R, vn den Berg, W. (2019). Empower parents, enable breastfeeding - Now and for the future! Penang, Malaysia: World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. Available at: https://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/action-folder.
Stumbitz, B., Vickers, I., Lyon, F. et al. (2018). The Role of Community Businesses in Providing Health & Wellbeing Services – challenges, opportunities and support needs. London: Power to Change. Available at: https://www.powertochange.org.uk/research/role-community-businesses-providing-health- wellbeing-services-challenges-opportunities-support-needs/ .
Stumbitz, B., Kyei, A, Lewis, S. and Lyon, F. (2017). The Legal, Policy and Regulatory Environment Governing Maternity Protection and Workers with Family Responsibilities in the Formal and Informal Economy of Ghana. Geneva: ILO. ISBN: 978-92-2-131356-4. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/--- gender/documents/publication/wcms_601900.pdf .
Lewis, S., Stumbitz, B., Miles, L. and Rouse, J. (2014) Maternity protection in SMEs. An International Review. Geneva: International Labour Organisation. ISBN: 978-92-2-129065-0. Available at : https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1773Maternity%20Protection%20in%20S MEs.pdf .
Croucher, R., Stumbitz, B.; Vickers, I.; Quinlan, M. (2013). Can better working conditions improve the performance of SMEs? – An international literature review, Geneva: ILO. ISBN: 978-92-2-1275503. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/--- emp_ent/documents/publication/wcms_227760.pdf .
Stumbitz, B., McDowall, H. and Gabriel, M. (2012). Golden Opportunities – Social Entrepreneurs in an Ageing Society. Research Findings Series, UnLtd Research. Available at: https://unltd.org.uk/wp- content/uploads/2012/11/Findings-Paper-4-Golden-Opportunities-2011.pdf [Accessed December 2020].
Book Chapters
Stumbitz, B. (2020). Maternity Protection at Work: Decent Work for All During Pregnancy and New Motherhood. In: Leal Filho W., Azul A., Brandli L. et al. (eds) Decent Work and Economic Growth. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. ISBN: 978-3-319-71058-7.
Lewis, S. and Stumbitz, B. (2017). ‘Research on Work and Family – Some Issues and Challenges’, in Liebig, B. and Oechsle, M. (eds). Fathers in Work Organizations: Inequalities and Capabilities, Rationalities and Politics. Opladen: Barbara Budrich, pp. 227-245.
Unpublished Report
Clark, N., Stumbitz, B., Keles, J.Y. and Woodcock, J. (2020). Newham working student pilot project summary report. Available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/30711/.
Conference Presentations
Jaga, A. and Stumbitz, B. (2020). ‘A Southern Encounter: Maternal body work among low income mothers in South Africa’, Paper presented at the Virtual Work and Family Researchers Network Conference (New York), September 2020.
Stumbitz, B. (2019). ‘Supporting Women who Breastfeed: Paid Leave and Family-Friendly Workplace Policies’, Panel speaker at the Women Deliver Conference, Vancouver, Canada, June 2019.
Jaga, A. and Stumbitz, B. (2019). ‘The Role of Supervisor Support for Breastfeeding Mothers in Low Pay Factory Settings: The Case of Clothing Workers in South Africa’, Paper presented at the Community, Work & Family Conference, Malta, May 2019.
Stumbitz, B. (2019). ‘Supporting Maternity and Paternity in the Workplace’, Paper presented at the Global Breastfeeding Collecting Partner Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, April 2019.
Stumbitz, B. (2018). ‘Key Issues in Planning, Conducting and Publishing Research: the Case of Maternity Protection Research in Ghana’, Paper presented at the Work and Family Researchers Network Conference in Washington D.C., US, June 2018.
Jaga, A. and Stumbitz, B. (2018). ‘Breastfeeding support at work in South Africa. Putting research into practice. Paper presented at the Work and Family Researchers Network Conference in Washington D.C., US, June 2018.
Stumbitz, B. and Jaga, A. (2017). ‘Breastfeeding support at work in South Africa: Setting a research agenda. Paper presented at the Community, Work & Family Conference in Milan, Italy, May 2017.
Stumbitz, B., Kyei, A., Lewis, S. and Lyon, F. (2016). ‘Maternity Protection at Work in Challenging Environments: A Case Study of Women Workers in The Informal Economy in Ghana’. Paper presented at the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference in Washington D.C, US, June 2016.
Stumbitz, B., Lewis, S. and Lyon, F. (2015). ‘Maternity Protection in the Workplace: The Case of Ghana’. Paper presented at the GEN Confreat in Leeds, July 2015.
Stumbitz, B., Lewis, S., Lyon, F. and Kyei, A. (2015). ‘Maternity Protection in the Workplace: The Case of Ghana’. Paper presented at the International Conference of Work and Family in Barcelona, Spain, July 2015.
Stumbitz, B., Kyei, A., Lewis, S. and Lyon, F. (2015). ‘Maternity Protection at Work in Challenging Environments: A Case Study of small businesses and the informal economy in Ghana’. Paper presented at the Community, Work & Family Conference in Malmø, Sweden, May 2015.
Lewis, S. and Stumbitz, B. (2015). ‘Research on Work and Family – some issues and challenges’. Paper presented at the Fathers in Work Organizations Conference in Bielefeld, Germany, March 2015.
Stumbitz. B. (2014). ‘The Business Case for Breastfeeding Support in SMEs’. Paper presented at the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference in New York, US, June 2014.
Lewis, S. and Stumbitz, B. (2014). ‘Maternity Protection in SMEs – Can effective maternity protection enhance business outcomes?’. Paper presented at the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Conference in New York, US, June 2014.
Stumbitz, B. (2013). ‘Social Entrepreneurship Shaped by the Life Course’. Paper presented at the 4th EMES International Conference on Social Enterprise in Liège, Belgium, July 2013.
Stumbitz, B. (2012). ‘Social Entrepreneurial Activity in Later Life: Motivations shaped by the Life Course’. Paper presented at the 4th International Social Innovation Research Conference, University of Birmingham, Sept 2012.
Stumbitz, B. (2012). ‘The Benefits of Social Entrepreneurial Activity in Later Life’. Paper presented at the British Society of Gerontology 41st Annual Conference, Keele University, July 2012.
Stumbitz, B. (2011). ‘The Role and Potential of Older Social Entrepreneurs in an Ageing Society’. Paper presented at the British Society of Gerontology 40th Annual Conference, Plymouth University, July 2011.
Humbert, A., Lyon, F. and Stumbitz, B. (2010). ‘Understanding the Diversity of Social Entrepreneurship’. Paper presented at the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference in London, November 2010.
Stumbitz, B. (2010). ‘The Role and Potential of Older Social Entrepreneurs in an Ageing Society’. Paper presented at the 2nd International Social Innovation Research Conference in Oxford, September 2010.
Stumbitz, B. and Humbert, A. (2010). ‘The Diversity of Older Social Entrepreneurs – A Life Course Perspective’. Paper presented at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference in Vienna, Austria, July 2010.
Stumbitz, B. (2010). ‘Older Social Entrepreneurs – Preliminary Findings’. Paper presented at the 2nd EMES International PhD Summer School in Roskilde, Denmark, July 2010.
Stumbitz, B. (2009). ‘Understanding the Diversity of Social Entrepreneurs’. Paper presented at the 2nd EMES International Conference on Social Enterprise in Trento, Italy, July 2009.
Stumbitz, Bianca and Jaga, Ameeta (2020) A Southern encounter: maternal body work and low-income mothers in South Africa. Gender, Work and Organization , 27 (6). pp. 1485-1500. ISSN 0968-6673
Clark, Nick and Keles, Janroj Yilmaz and Stumbitz, Bianca and Woodcock, Jamie (2020) Newham working student pilot project summary report. Project Report. Middlesex University, London, UK. (Published online first)
Stumbitz, Bianca and Vickers, Ian and Lyon, Fergus (2019) Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe. Project Report. European Union, Luxembourg.
Stumbitz, Bianca and Lewis, Suzan and Kyei, Abigail A. and Lyon, Fergus (2018) Maternity protection in formal and informal economy workplaces: the case of Ghana. World Development , 110 . pp. 373-384. ISSN 0305-750X
Stumbitz, Bianca and Lewis, Suzan and Rouse, Julia (2018) Maternity management in SMEs: a transdisciplinary review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews , 20 (2). pp. 500-522. ISSN 1460-8545
Recent Funded Research
Power to Change
Good Work and Community Business - identifying pathways to good practice (2019-2021)
Women in Racing Foundation (Consultancy)
Racing Home: Working Mothers in the Horseracing Industry (in collaboration with Clayton-Hathway, Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice, Oxford Brookes Business School)(2020)
WHO/UNICEF (Consultancy)
The State of Maternity Leave Legislation around the World (2019)
University of Cape Town and South African National Research Fund (Consultancy)
European Commission
Mapping of Social Enterprises and their Ecosystems in Europe, UK Report (with Lyon and Vickers) (2018-2019)
British Council/Newton Fund
School for Social Entrepereneurs (SSE)
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and UnLtd
Professional Roles and Activities
Member of the Maternity Committee of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Member of the Working Families Academic Advisory Board
Member of Workplace Support for Breastfeeding at Western Cape Government Steering Committee, Cape Higher Education Consortium and Western Cape Government Joint Task Force, Cape Town, South Africa
Academic advisor to the Global Breastfeeding Collective, led by WHO and UNICEF
Academic advisor to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), organiser of World Breastfeeding Week, Malaysia
Co-chair of International Committee of Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN)
All of Bianca's research seeks to have a practical as well as academic application, as the basis of advocacy initiatives seeking to influence policy makers, or being used to promote discussion and action among key actors of organised civil society. She also lead on a case study on MP at work which has been included in the REF2021 Business School submission.
Maternity Protection and Family-friendly Support at Work
'Good Work' and Wellbeing in Community Business
Bianca recently conducted studies on the role of community businesses in providing health and wellbeing services and ‘good work’, and on alternative social enterprise models for delivering health and social care public services. These projects included knowledge exchange events at the House of Lords and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) with key stakeholders from the social enterprise sector, support organisations and policy makers to maximise practical outcomes.
Social Entrepreneurs aged over 50
Bianca also completed an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) funded study on Older Social Entrepreneurs which was carried out in collaboration with UnLtd, a charity that supports social entrepreneurs in the UK. Her findings were used to develop programmes tailored to the needs of social entrepreneurs over 50, as well as a support toolkit for older social entrepreneurs. The collaboration also resulted in a Research Findings Paper which has provided UnLtd with evidence needed to disseminate their message about the potential of social entrepreneurship in later life to a range of stakeholders and to influence policy (key audiences: social entrepreneurs, support organisations, academics and policymakers).
Workplace Breastfeeding Support
Bianca has been acting as an advisor of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in their global efforts to empower women through breastfeeding support. Her work with WABA has been focussing on the area of women's employment, including supports for women in low paid employment and the informal economy.
She is also currently collaborating with the University of Cape Town and the South African clothing workers union SACTWU on the design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention for workplace breastfeeding support.
