Professor Andrew Henley BA (Nottingham, MA, PhD (Warwick), FLSW
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics, Director of Research Engagement and Impact
- HenleyA@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 75392
- Aberconway Building, Room B23, Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
Overview
I am Professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics. My published research in over 60 peer-reviewed articles, 2 books and a range of book contributions, over almost 40 years, spans entrepreneurship (and particularly self-employment) and small business leadership and performance, regional development and labour economics. I have extensive experience in the leadership of externally funded research and national and international consultancy activity, including work with small business. I was School Director of Research Impact and Engagement from 2016 to 2021.
My full CV including full publications is here.
I am or have recently been involved in three ESRC/UKRI funded projects, relating to the UK productivity gap and to understanding the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Co-Investigator and Wales lead: ESRC The Productivity Institute (@TPIProductivity) 2020-2025 and co-ordinator of the Wales Productivity Forum (@WalesProdForum)
- Co-Investigator: ESRC/UKRI Addressing Inclusivity in the Spatial and Social Impacts of COVID-19 on the Self-Employed in the UK 2020-2022
- Co-Investigator: ESRC Productivity Insights Network 2018-2022
I am currently President of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE), serving from 2021 to 2023. I also chaired the organising committee for ISBE's 2021 conference in Cardiff.
I was until 2019 a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Strategic Advisory Network, and also previously a member and Vice-Chair of the ESRC's Capability Committee. I have also been a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of Understanding Society, the UK's household longitudinal survey. Between 2002 and 2012 I served as an appointed member of the Welsh Government’s Economic Research Advisory Panel, advising the First Minister of Wales on economic research and policy, and continue to advise Welsh Government in a number of formal and informal roles. I was a director of the Wales Management Council. Between 2009 and 2012 I established and led the European Social Fund's LEAD Wales programme supporting small business leadership and growth across Wales, with £7m of EU funding.
I was elected to Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales in 2017.
I am a Research Fellow of the IZA Institute for Labor, Bonn.
Winner: Best overall conference paper, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 40th Annual Conference, 2017
Follow me - Twitter: @AndrewGHenley - LinkedIn: ahenley
Orcid: 0000-0003-4057-1679
Publication
2022
- Henley, A. 2022. Digital technologies, gig work and labour share. Cambridge Journal of Economics 46(6), pp. 1407-1429. (10.1093/cje/beac043)
- Henley, A. 2022. Religion and entrepreneurship. In: Zimmermann, K. F. ed. Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 1-27., (10.1007/978-3-319-57365-6_373-1)
- Henley, A. 2022. Is there a link between small business leadership and productivity?. University of Warwick, Enterprise Research Centre. Available at: https://www.productivity.ac.uk/research/is-there-a-link-between-small-business-leadership-and-productivity/
- Henley, A. 2022. Is rising self-employment associated with material deprivation in the UK?. Work Employment and Society (10.1177/09500170221092640)
2021
- Henley, A. 2021. The rise of self-employment in the UK: entrepreneurial transmission or declining job quality?. Cambridge Journal of Economics 45(3), pp. 457-486., article number: beab007. (10.1093/cje/beab007)
- Henley, A., Reuschke, D., Daniel, E. and Price, V. 2021. Self-employment in Wales during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Welsh Economic Review 28, pp. 1-13. (10.18573/wer.259)
- Henley, A., Vorley, T. and Gherhes, C. 2021. Implications and impacts of the crisis on micro businesses and their future resilience. In: McCann, P. and Vorley, T. eds. Productivity and the Pandemic: Challenges and Insights from Covid-19. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
2020
- Henley, A., Kapitsinis, N., Munday, M. and Roberts, A. 2020. Covid-19 Welsh government financial interventions: an analysis of Welsh beneficiaries. Technical Report.
- Henley, A. and Song, M. 2020. Innovation, internationalisation and the performance of microbusinesses. International Small Business Journal 38(4), pp. 337-364. (10.1177/0266242619893938)
- Henley, A. 2020. Small business growth and productivity. In: Productivity Perspectives. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
2019
- Daniel, E. M., Henley, A. and Anwar, M. N. 2019. Contemporary ethnic minority entrepreneurship in the UK: A quantitative exploration of break out and entrepreneurial quality. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 25(7), pp. 1410-1432. (10.1108/IJEBR-01-2019-0021)
- de Meza, D., Dawson, C., Henley, A. and Arabsheibani, G. R. 2019. Curb your enthusiasm: optimistic entrepreneurs earn less. European Economic Review 111, pp. 53-69. (10.1016/j.euroecorev.2018.08.007)
2018
- Prysor, D. and Henley, A. 2018. Boundary spanning in higher education leadership: identifying boundaries and practices in a British university. Studies in Higher Education 43(12), pp. 2210-2225. (10.1080/03075079.2017.1318364)
2017
- Henley, A. and Lang, M. 2017. Self-employment in Wales: micro-business activity or the rise of the gig economy?. Welsh Economic Review 25, pp. 9-17. (10.18573/j.2017.10194)
- Henley, A. 2017. Creating value. In: Mabey, C. and Knights, D. eds. Leadership Matters: Finding Voice, Connection and Meaning in the 21st Century. Routledge Studies in Leadership Research London: Routledge, pp. 153-166.
- Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C. and Barbosa, D. 2017. Entrepreneurial intentions of Colombian business students: planned behaviour, leadership skills and social capital. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 23(6), pp. 1017-1032. (10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0031)
- Henley, A. 2017. The post-crisis growth in the self-employed: volunteers or reluctant recruits?. Regional Studies 51(9), pp. 1312-1323. (10.1080/00343404.2016.1184753)
- Henley, A. 2017. Does religion influence entrepreneurial behaviour?. International Small Business Journal 35(5), pp. 597-617. (10.1177/0266242616656748)
- Morris, W., Henley, A. and Dowell, D. 2017. Farm diversification, entrepreneurship and technology adoption: analysis of upland farmers in Wales. Journal of Rural Studies 53 (10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.05.014)
2015
- Henley, A. 2015. Economics and virtue ethics: reflections from a Christian perspective. In: Kidwell, J. and Doherty, S. eds. Theology and Economics: A Christian Vision of the Common Good. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 109-125., (10.1057/9781137536518)
- Henley, A. 2015. Business schools, economic virtues and Christian theology. In: Mabey, C. and Mayrhofer, W. eds. Developing Leadership: Questions Business Schools Don't Ask. London: Sage, pp. 121-131.
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2015. Gender, risk, and venture creation intentions. Journal of Small Business Management 53(2), pp. 501-515. (10.1111/jsbm.12080)
2014
- Dawson, C., de Meza, D., Henley, A. and Arabsheibani, G. R. 2014. Entrepreneurship: cause and consequence of financial optimism. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy 23(4), pp. 717-742. (10.1111/jems.12076)
- Jones, K., Sambrook, S. A., Pittaway, L., Henley, A. and Norbury, H. 2014. Action learning: how learning transfers from entrepreneurs to small firms. Action Learning: Research and Practice 11(2), pp. 131-166. (10.1080/14767333.2014.896249)
- Dawson, C., Henley, A. and Latreille, P. 2014. Individual motives for choosing self-employment in the UK: does region matter?. Regional Studies 48(5), pp. 804-822. (10.1080/00343404.2012.697140)
2013
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2013. Over-optimism and entry and exit from self-employment. International Small Business Journal 31(8), pp. 938-954. (10.1177/0266242612445462)
2012
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2012. Something will turn up? Financial over-optimism and mortgage arrears. Economics Letters 117(1), pp. 49-52. (10.1016/j.econlet.2012.04.063)
2010
- Disney, R., Gathergood, J. and Henley, A. 2010. House price shocks, negative equity, and household consumption in the United Kingdom. Journal of the European Economic Association 8(6), pp. 1179-1207. (10.1111/j.1542-4774.2010.tb00552.x)
2009
- Henley, A., Arabsheibani, G. R. and Carneiro, F. G. 2009. On defining and measuring the informal sector: evidence from Brazil. World Development 37(5), pp. 992-1003. (10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.09.011)
2007
- Henley, A. 2007. Entrepreneurial aspiration and transition into self-employment: evidence from British longitudinal data. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development 19(3), pp. 253-280. (10.1080/08985620701223080)
2005
- Henley, A. 2005. Job creation by the self-employed: the roles of entrepreneurial and financial capital. Small Business Economics 25(2), pp. 175-196. (10.1007/s11187-004-6480-1)
- Henley, A. 2005. On regional growth convergence in Great Britain. Regional Studies 39(9), pp. 1245-1260. (10.1080/00343400500390123)
2004
- Henley, A. 2004. Self-employment status: the role of state dependence and initial circumstances. Small Business Economics 22(1), pp. 67-82. (10.1023/B:SBEJ.0000011573.84746.04)
- Henley, A. 2004. House price shocks, windfall gains and hours of work: British evidence*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 66(4), pp. 439-456. (10.1111/j.1468-0084.2004.00088.x)
Articles
- Henley, A. 2022. Digital technologies, gig work and labour share. Cambridge Journal of Economics 46(6), pp. 1407-1429. (10.1093/cje/beac043)
- Henley, A. 2022. Is rising self-employment associated with material deprivation in the UK?. Work Employment and Society (10.1177/09500170221092640)
- Henley, A. 2021. The rise of self-employment in the UK: entrepreneurial transmission or declining job quality?. Cambridge Journal of Economics 45(3), pp. 457-486., article number: beab007. (10.1093/cje/beab007)
- Henley, A., Reuschke, D., Daniel, E. and Price, V. 2021. Self-employment in Wales during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Welsh Economic Review 28, pp. 1-13. (10.18573/wer.259)
- Henley, A. and Song, M. 2020. Innovation, internationalisation and the performance of microbusinesses. International Small Business Journal 38(4), pp. 337-364. (10.1177/0266242619893938)
- Daniel, E. M., Henley, A. and Anwar, M. N. 2019. Contemporary ethnic minority entrepreneurship in the UK: A quantitative exploration of break out and entrepreneurial quality. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 25(7), pp. 1410-1432. (10.1108/IJEBR-01-2019-0021)
- de Meza, D., Dawson, C., Henley, A. and Arabsheibani, G. R. 2019. Curb your enthusiasm: optimistic entrepreneurs earn less. European Economic Review 111, pp. 53-69. (10.1016/j.euroecorev.2018.08.007)
- Prysor, D. and Henley, A. 2018. Boundary spanning in higher education leadership: identifying boundaries and practices in a British university. Studies in Higher Education 43(12), pp. 2210-2225. (10.1080/03075079.2017.1318364)
- Henley, A. and Lang, M. 2017. Self-employment in Wales: micro-business activity or the rise of the gig economy?. Welsh Economic Review 25, pp. 9-17. (10.18573/j.2017.10194)
- Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C. and Barbosa, D. 2017. Entrepreneurial intentions of Colombian business students: planned behaviour, leadership skills and social capital. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 23(6), pp. 1017-1032. (10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0031)
- Henley, A. 2017. The post-crisis growth in the self-employed: volunteers or reluctant recruits?. Regional Studies 51(9), pp. 1312-1323. (10.1080/00343404.2016.1184753)
- Henley, A. 2017. Does religion influence entrepreneurial behaviour?. International Small Business Journal 35(5), pp. 597-617. (10.1177/0266242616656748)
- Morris, W., Henley, A. and Dowell, D. 2017. Farm diversification, entrepreneurship and technology adoption: analysis of upland farmers in Wales. Journal of Rural Studies 53 (10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.05.014)
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2015. Gender, risk, and venture creation intentions. Journal of Small Business Management 53(2), pp. 501-515. (10.1111/jsbm.12080)
- Dawson, C., de Meza, D., Henley, A. and Arabsheibani, G. R. 2014. Entrepreneurship: cause and consequence of financial optimism. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy 23(4), pp. 717-742. (10.1111/jems.12076)
- Jones, K., Sambrook, S. A., Pittaway, L., Henley, A. and Norbury, H. 2014. Action learning: how learning transfers from entrepreneurs to small firms. Action Learning: Research and Practice 11(2), pp. 131-166. (10.1080/14767333.2014.896249)
- Dawson, C., Henley, A. and Latreille, P. 2014. Individual motives for choosing self-employment in the UK: does region matter?. Regional Studies 48(5), pp. 804-822. (10.1080/00343404.2012.697140)
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2013. Over-optimism and entry and exit from self-employment. International Small Business Journal 31(8), pp. 938-954. (10.1177/0266242612445462)
- Dawson, C. and Henley, A. 2012. Something will turn up? Financial over-optimism and mortgage arrears. Economics Letters 117(1), pp. 49-52. (10.1016/j.econlet.2012.04.063)
- Disney, R., Gathergood, J. and Henley, A. 2010. House price shocks, negative equity, and household consumption in the United Kingdom. Journal of the European Economic Association 8(6), pp. 1179-1207. (10.1111/j.1542-4774.2010.tb00552.x)
- Henley, A., Arabsheibani, G. R. and Carneiro, F. G. 2009. On defining and measuring the informal sector: evidence from Brazil. World Development 37(5), pp. 992-1003. (10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.09.011)
- Henley, A. 2007. Entrepreneurial aspiration and transition into self-employment: evidence from British longitudinal data. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development 19(3), pp. 253-280. (10.1080/08985620701223080)
- Henley, A. 2005. Job creation by the self-employed: the roles of entrepreneurial and financial capital. Small Business Economics 25(2), pp. 175-196. (10.1007/s11187-004-6480-1)
- Henley, A. 2005. On regional growth convergence in Great Britain. Regional Studies 39(9), pp. 1245-1260. (10.1080/00343400500390123)
- Henley, A. 2004. Self-employment status: the role of state dependence and initial circumstances. Small Business Economics 22(1), pp. 67-82. (10.1023/B:SBEJ.0000011573.84746.04)
- Henley, A. 2004. House price shocks, windfall gains and hours of work: British evidence*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 66(4), pp. 439-456. (10.1111/j.1468-0084.2004.00088.x)
Book sections
- Henley, A. 2022. Religion and entrepreneurship. In: Zimmermann, K. F. ed. Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 1-27., (10.1007/978-3-319-57365-6_373-1)
- Henley, A., Vorley, T. and Gherhes, C. 2021. Implications and impacts of the crisis on micro businesses and their future resilience. In: McCann, P. and Vorley, T. eds. Productivity and the Pandemic: Challenges and Insights from Covid-19. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
- Henley, A. 2020. Small business growth and productivity. In: Productivity Perspectives. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
- Henley, A. 2017. Creating value. In: Mabey, C. and Knights, D. eds. Leadership Matters: Finding Voice, Connection and Meaning in the 21st Century. Routledge Studies in Leadership Research London: Routledge, pp. 153-166.
- Henley, A. 2015. Economics and virtue ethics: reflections from a Christian perspective. In: Kidwell, J. and Doherty, S. eds. Theology and Economics: A Christian Vision of the Common Good. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 109-125., (10.1057/9781137536518)
- Henley, A. 2015. Business schools, economic virtues and Christian theology. In: Mabey, C. and Mayrhofer, W. eds. Developing Leadership: Questions Business Schools Don't Ask. London: Sage, pp. 121-131.
Monographs
- Henley, A. 2022. Is there a link between small business leadership and productivity?. University of Warwick, Enterprise Research Centre. Available at: https://www.productivity.ac.uk/research/is-there-a-link-between-small-business-leadership-and-productivity/
- Henley, A., Kapitsinis, N., Munday, M. and Roberts, A. 2020. Covid-19 Welsh government financial interventions: an analysis of Welsh beneficiaries. Technical Report.
- Henley, A., Contreras, F., Espinosa, J. C. and Barbosa, D. 2017. Entrepreneurial intentions of Colombian business students: planned behaviour, leadership skills and social capital. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 23(6), pp. 1017-1032. (10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0031)
Research
Primary research interests
- Self-employment and entrepreneurship
- Small business growth and leadership
- Regional economic development
- Economics and ethics
PhD supervision research interests
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Individual labour market choice and self-employment
- Small business growth
- Regional economic development
Teaching
Teaching commitments
- BS1547 Introduction to Economics
- BST621 Entrepreneurship and Innovation (executive MBA)
Biography
Education and Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Industrial Economics University of Nottingham
- MA Economics University of Warwick
- PhD University of Warwick
- Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Career Overview
- 2016 - present: Cardiff Business School, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics
- 2012-2016: Aberystwyth University, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development; and Director (Dean) of Institute of Management, Law and Information Science
- 2004-2012: Swansea University, Professor and Head (Dean) of School of Business and Economics; Director, LEAD Wales programme
- 1996-2004: Aberystwyth University, Professor of Economics
- 1986-1995: University of Kent, Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Economics
- 1985-1986: University of Warwick, Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Economics
Supervisions
Entrepreneurship and self-employment
Small business growth, innovation and performance
Regional economic development and policy
Rural economic development
Current supervision

Ziyang Cheng
Research student
Research themes
Specialisms
- Entrepreneurship
- Labour economics
- Regional analysis and development
- Small business organisation and management