Professor Julia Rouse
Professor of Decent Work and Productivity
My profile
Biography
Julia led the establishment of the Decent Work and Productivity Research Centre and The Sylvia Pankhurst Gender and Diversity Research Centre. She is an Engaged-Activist Scholar which means that she enjoys working with stakeholders to (i) identify research and innovation problems that really matter (ii) co-create usable knowledge and real change.
- In 2024, Julia became a Professor of Decent Work and Productivity, changing her job title to reflect her widening research portfolio. In recent years, Julia’s work has focused on how we work with organisations to improve people management on the ground. Current projects include:
The Good Employment Learning Lab (GELL) - a UKRI-funded collaboration with CIPD, the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, ACAS, the NHS, FSB, the social care sector and several local authorities. Julia led a team to trial evidence-based interventions to develop the people management skills of line managers. A full evaluation report - How To Develop The People Management Skills of Line Managers - is available. A GELL Toolkit, that will enable organisations to review and develop their approaching to developing people management as a strategic capability on the ground, is to follow! Do get in touch to discuss how we can support change in your organisation.
The Engaged Scholarship Learning Lab - a two year project that engaged with hundreds of academics to raise their capability to conduct Engaged Scholarship. This initiative was part of the GELL project and funded by UKRI. Our partners were the British Academy of Management (BAM) and the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE).
BOOST! Changing Social Housing Organisations So Ethically Diverse Leaders Can Emerge and Thrive - Since 2019, Julia has worked with the Greater Manchester Housing Providers to innovate and test organisational change. Following a successful pilot project, BOOST! is now the subject of a 3 year Knowledge Transfer Partnership project. Our aim is to develop an evidence-based model that can be deployed in a range of sectors to make a much-needed step change in racial equality in the workplace.
Rhythms and Evolve! Developing Workplace Maternity Coaching and Organisational Change To Retain NHS Nurses and Midwives. This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project with the Northern Care Alliance that will develop and research (we think for the first time!) an evidence-based workplace maternity coaching process and a system to change a healthcare organisation so that ward managers can conduct good workplace maternity management. This project builds from Julia’s research with colleagues that proposed a ‘rhythm intelligent’ approach to maternity management.
- Julia was originally appointed in 2014 as a Professor of Entrepreneurship and is a well known researcher of enterprise programmes, low paid self-employment and women’s enterprise. Given the huge growth in self-employment, but falling pay, Julia tells anyone who will listen that we need cross-policy thinking about how to shape ‘good self-employment’! Julia conducted early critique of Covid19 policy for the self-employed and led a group of Professors and other stakeholders to lobby for inclusion of more of the most vulnerable self-employed workers. She has been calling for workable maternity/family leave policy for the self-employed for some years and is pleased that this policy problem is gaining traction. She recently supervised Dr Rebecca Weicht’s PhD thesis that compares the welfare systems for the self-employed in the UK, Germany and Denmark. Julia is an International Research Fellow at IfM Bonn and a Fellow of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE). Her entrepreneurship research has been funded by the ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Oxfam and local authorities.
While Julia is super-engaged in research impact, she is also a committed theorist. She is seeking to develop our critical realist understanding of entrepreneurship, people management, gender and race in the workplace and organisational change via Engaged-Activist Scholarship. She is a member of the ESRC Peer Review College and is on the peer review panel for UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships.
Julia has supervised many PhDs and Masters dissertations. She is currently supervising Donna McLaughlin (researching an inclusive recruitment innovation in a healthcare organisation) and Cheryl Coby-Gaskill (researching the entrepreneurial identities of young women undertaking hair and beauty training). Julia is also a mentor for MENAGEN where she is helping to develop the research careers of women researching female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa. A great believer in growing through networks, Julia founded ISBE’s Gender and Enterprise Network and led several ‘Think Tanks’ to raise our capability to think theoretically about women’s enterprise. During Covid19, she acted as Chair of the Women’s Enterprise Policy Group and produced a cross-stakeholder critique of women’s disadvantage under pandemic policy. Julia welcomes PhD applications on improving people management, particularly in relation to diversity or small firms, and on any topic relating to ‘good self-employment’. Her supervision style might be summarised as challenging and compassionate! Julia is always interested to hear from organisations that want to create decent work and productivity through research-based innovations.
As a mother of two, a carer to a father living with dementia and a woman who is open about the challenges of building a career through maternity, menopause and disability, Julia attempts to be an authentic and realistic role model, colleague and collaborator. She is grateful to be richly supported by our wonderful team in the Decent Work and Productivity Research Centre and the great networks of partners in Greater Manchester and beyond who share our vision to improve working lives and productivity!
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2014) 'Zusammenhange Zwischen Lebenslaufen Grundungsmotiven und Wirtschaftlichem Erfolg.' In Gather, G., Biermann Lena Schurmann, I., Ulbricht, S., Zipprian, H. (ed.) Die Vielfalt der Selbstandigkeit Sozialwissenschaftliche Beitrage zu Einer Erwerbsform im Wandel. Berlin: Edition Sigma,
Rouse, J.C. (2007) 'Undertaking Comparative Analysis.' In Thorpe, R., Holt, R. (ed.) The Sage Dictionary of Qualitative Management Research. London, UK: Sage,
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Reports
Rouse, J., Willocks, K., Atkinson, C., Lupton, B. (2023) How to develop line managers people management skills, Good Employment Learning lab Evaluation report.
Jones, K., Berry, C., Rouse, J., Whittle, R. (2019) Universal Credit and In-Work Conditionality – a productive turn?. Productivity Insights Network.
Rouse, J.C., Mirza, A. (2014) Empowering British Bangladeshi Women Through Small Enterprise. Oxfam, Oxford, UK.
Lewis, S., Stumbitz, B., Miles, L., Rouse, J.C. (2014) Maternity Protection in SME's: An International Review. International Labour Office, Geneva.
Rouse, J.C. (2014) The impact on Women of Budget 2014: No Recovery for Women. The Women's Budget Group.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2012) Who Makes Money From Entrepreneurship? Final Report to the Economic and Social Research Council. ESRC/Liverpool University.
Crompton, H., Rouse, J.C., Vasilieva, E. (2008) Enterprise for Young People in Manchester and Salford: A Review of National, Regional and Local Policy. Manchester and Salford Enterprise Board, UK.
Vasilieva, E., Rouse, J.C. (2008) Building Bridges: Manchester Salford Enterprise Initiative: Enterprise Support and Engagement in Deprived Communities Pilots. North West Development Agency and Manchester and Salford Enterprise Board.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C., Crompton, H. (2007) The NES follow-up survey 2006: an evaluation of the experiences of new entrepreneur scholars and their businesses. Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (MMUBS).
Rouse, J.C., Sappleton, N., Ellen, D. (2007) Managing Maternity in Small Firms in the North West. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Rouse, J.C., Sappleton, N., Ellen, D. (2007) An Action Plan to Support Small Businesses to Manage Maternity Fairly and Productively. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Rouse, J.C., Crompton, H., Jones, O., Mistry, A. (2006) Manchester and Salford local enterprise growth initiative: a review of evidence. Manchester Metropolitan University.
Rouse, J.C. (2005) Tameside Local Enterprise Growth Initiative: A Review of Local Evidence. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rouse, J.C. (2005) Tameside Local Enterprise Growth Initiative: A Survey of Small Businesses. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rouse, J.C., Ellen, D. (2005) Tameside Local Enterprise Growth Initiative: Partner Consultation. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rouse, J.C. (2005) Tameside Local Enterprise Growth Initiative: Overview of Enterprise Research. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rouse, J.C., de Beranger, P. (2005) Tameside Local Enterprise Growth Initiative: A Survey of Residents and Community Groups. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Rouse, J.C., Boles, K. (2005) Big NES Survey 2005: An Evaluation of Experiences of New Enterpreneur Scholars. Learning and Skills Council, UK.
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Journal articles
Wilkinson, K., Rouse, J. (2022) 'Solo-living and childless professional women: navigating the 'balanced mother ideal' over the fertile years.' Gender, Work and Organization, 30(1) pp. 68-85.
Rouse, J., Atkinson, J., Rowe, A. (2021) 'Peering inside mutual adjustment : rhythmanalysis of return to work from maternity leave.' International Small Business Journal, 39(8) pp. 709-731.
Rouse, J., Kitching, J. (2020) 'Contesting Effectuation Theory: Why It Does Not Explain New Venture Creation.' International Small Business Journal, 38(6) pp. 515-535.
Lee, R., Tuselmann, H., Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J. (2018) 'Effects of Structural, Relational and Cognitive Social Capital on Resource Acquisition: A Study of Entrepreneurs Residing in Deprived Neighbourhoods.' Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 31(5-6) pp. 534-554.
Rouse, J.C., Woolnough, H. (2018) 'Engaged or activist scholarship? Feminist reflections on philosophy, accountability and transformational potential.' International Small Business Journal, 36(4) pp. 429-448.
Kitching, J., Rouse, J. (2017) 'Opportunity or dead end? Rethinking the study of entrepreneurial action without a concept of opportunity.' International Small Business Journal, 35(5) pp. 558-577.
Rouse, J.C., Lewis, S. (2017) 'Maternity Management in SMEs: A Transdisciplinary Review and Research Agenda.' International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2) pp. 500-522.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J., Macpherson, A. (2014) 'Life course pathways to business start-up.' Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 26(3-4) pp. 282-312.
Rouse, J., Treanor, L., Fleck, E. (2013) 'The gendering of entrepreneurship: Theoretical and empirical insights.' International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 19(5) pp. 452-459.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J., Kitching, J. (2013) 'Entrepreneur motivations and life course.' INTERNATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS JOURNAL, 31(1) pp. 34-56.
Lee, R., Tüselmann, H., Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J. (2011) 'Investigating the social capital and resource acquisition of entrepreneurs residing in deprived areas of England.' Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29(6) pp. 1054-1072.
Rouse, J., Jayawarna, D. (2011) 'Structures of exclusion from enterprise finance.' Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 29(4) pp. 659-676.
Rouse, J., Sappleton, N. (2009) 'Managing maternity fairly and productively: Support for small employers.' International Small Business Journal, 27(2) pp. 215-225.
Rouse, J., Jayawarna, D. (2006) 'The financing of disadvantaged entrepreneurs: Are enterprise programmes overcoming the finance gap?.' International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 12(6) pp. 388-400.
Jones, G., O'Sullivan, A., Rouse, J. (2006) 'Young adults, partners and parents: Individual agency and the problems of support.' Journal of Youth Studies, 9(4) pp. 375-392.
Rouse, J., Kitching, J. (2006) 'Do enterprise support programmes leave women holding the baby?.' Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 24(1) pp. 5-19.
Rouse, J.C. (2004) 'Because It's Worth It? Education Beliefs Among Young People and Their Parents in the UK.' Youth and Society, 36(2) pp. 203-226.
Curran, J., Rouse, J., Mcclure, R., Stokes, D., Fitchew, S. (1997) 'Abstracts and Commentaries.' International Small Business Journal, 15(3) pp. 83-94.
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Conference papers
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. 'Opportunity or Dead End? A Critique of the Concept of Opportunity And its Contribution to the study of Entrepreneurial Action.'
Rouse, J.C., Jayawarna, D. 'The Efffect of Class on Entrepreneur Earnings.'
Willocks, K., Rouse, J. (2023) 'What works when developing the skills of line managers.' In Katie Willocks. CIPD developing line manager conference, London,
Jones, S., Drake, H., Rouse, J. (2019) 'The Gendering of Formal Mentoring at Work: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda.' In British Academy of Management. Aston University, Birmingham, 3/9/2019 - 5/9/2019.
Turner, P., Rouse, J. (2018) 'Beyond scarce resources: Conceptualising small firm public sector tendering capability.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2016) 'Entrepreneurial Practice in Pregnancy: A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda.' In 9th Diana International Research Conference: Gender in Family Business & Gender and Innovation. Bodo, Norway, 12/6/2016 - 14/6/2016.
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2015) 'Entrepreneurial Practice in Pregnancy: A Conceptual Framework.' In RENT XXIV: Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business: Entrepreneurial Society: A Platform for New Solutions to Old Problems. Zagreb, Croatia, 18/11/2015 - 20/11/2015.
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2015) 'Entrepreneurial Practice in Pregnancy: A Conceptual Framework.' In 38th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Annual Conference: Internationalisation, Innovation and Leadership. Glasgow, United Kingdom, 11/11/2015 - 12/11/2015.
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2014) 'Embodying Entrepreneur Pregnancy: More Individualised Strategizing Than Mutual Adjustment.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Manchester, UK, 1/11/2014 - 1/11/2014.
Kitching, J., Rouse, J.C. (2014) 'Transcending The Discovery and Creationary Approaches to the Study of Entrepeneurial Opportunities.' In RENT Conference. Luxembourg, 1/1/2014 - 1/1/2014.
Kitching, J., Rouse, J.C. (2014) 'Is Effectuation Enough? New Venture Creation, Agency and Social Structure.' In ICSB Conference. Dublin, Eire, 1/1/2014 - 1/1/2014.
Kitching, J., Rouse, J.C. (2014) 'Expanding Effectuation: Social Structure, Agency and New Venture Creation.' In International Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. International, Manchester, UK, 1/1/2014 - 1/1/2014.
Lee, R.M., Tuselmann, H., Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J. (2012) 'Investigating the Resource Acquisition of Entrepreneurs Residing in Deprived Areas of England.' In Research Institute for Business and Management RIBM Seminar Series. Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, UK, 1/11/2012 - 1/11/2012.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2012) 'Life Course Pathways to Entrepreneur Earnings.' In British Academy of Management Conference. 1/9/2012 - 1/9/2012.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2011) 'Resource-Based Life Course Pathways to Entrepreneur Earnings.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Sheffield, UK, 1/11/2011 - 1/11/2011.
Turner, P., Rouse, J.C. (2011) 'Entrepreneurial Capital in the Public Sector Tendering Context: Competitive Habits and Routines.' 1/1/2011 - 1/1/2011.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) 'Entrepreneur Labour Capacity Embedded in the TSOL in the Micro-Enterprise Household.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. London, UK. 1/11/2010 - 1/11/2010.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) 'Entrepreneur Income Creation as a Situated Capacity to Apply Resources to Opportunity.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. 1/11/2010 - 1/11/2010.
Rouse, J.C., Jayawarna, D. (2010) 'Challenging the Discourse of Enterprise as an Open Route of Opportunity: A Life Course Model of Opportunity Structures Governing Income From Entrepreneurship.' In Work, Employment and Society Conference. Brighton, UK, 1/1/2010 - 1/1/2010.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) 'Entrepreneurship as Embodied Gender Practice: Clues From the Experiences of Pregnant Business Owners.' In Work, Employment and Society Conference. Brighton, UK, 1/1/2010 - 1/1/2010.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) 'Entrepreneurship as Embodied Gender Practice: Clues From the Experiences of Pregnant Business Owners.' In European Academy of Management Conference. Rome, Italy, 1/1/2010 - 1/1/2010.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) 'Entrepreneur Labour Capacity Embedded in the TSOL in the Micro-Enterprise Household.' In Diana International Conference on Women's Enterprise Proceedings. Banff, Canada, 1/1/2010 - 1/1/2010.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2009) 'Conceptualising the Opportunity Structures Governing Entrepreneurship.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Liverpool, UK, 1/1/2009 - 1/1/2009.
Rouse, J.C. (2009) 'Can You Hang On While I Give Birth and Breastfeed?.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Liverpool, UK, 1/1/2009 - 1/1/2009.
Rouse, J.C. (2008) 'The Embodied Entrepreneur: Through the Lens of Pregnancy.' In International Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Belfast, UK, 1/11/2008 - 1/11/2008.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2008) 'Sustaining Entrepreneurship: Motivational Profiles and Their Effects on Business Growth.' 9/9/2008 - 9/9/2008.
Rouse, J.C. (2008) 'The Embodied Entrepreneur: Through The Lens of Pregnancy.' In British Academy of Management Conference. Harrogate, UK, 1/9/2008 - 1/9/2008.
Andrews, R., Rouse, J., Jones, O. (2008) 'Imagining Support for Small Firms as Complex Adaptive Systems.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Belfast, 5/11/2008 -
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2008) 'Motivations For Sustaining Entrepreneurship.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Belfast, UK, 1/1/2008 - 1/1/2008.
Andrews, R., Rouse, J.C., Jones, O. (2008) 'Imagining Support for Small Firms as Complex Adaptive Systems.' In Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Belfast, UK, 1/1/2008 - 1/1/2008.
Sappleton, N.A., Rouse, J. (2007) 'Support for Managing Maternity in Small Firms: The Productivity Gap.' In 30th National Conference, Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Glasgow, UK, 1/11/2007 - 1/11/2007.
Rouse, J.C. (2007) 'Enterprise as an Open Route of Opportunity: The Discourse of an Enterprise Programme.' In International Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Glasgow, UK, 1/11/2007 - 1/11/2007.
Rouse, J.C., Jayawarna, D. (2007) 'Enterprise Programme Outcomes: The Influence of Human, Social and Financial Capital.' In International Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Glasgow, UK, 9/9/2007 - 9/9/2007.
Jayawarna, D., Rouse, J.C. (2007) 'Pathways to Entrepreneurship Across the Lifecourse: An Innovative Model Utilising Longitudinal Data From The British household Panel Survey.' In International Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Glasgow, UK, 9/9/2007 - 9/9/2007.
Rouse, J.C., Jayawama, D. (2007) 'The Role of Business Schools in Fostering Entrepreneurship: NES experience.' In Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Glasgow, Scotland, 9/9/2007 - 9/9/2007.
Rouse, J.C., Jayawarna, D. (2006) 'The Financing of Start-Up By Disadvantaged Groups: Capital Structure Adequacy.' In 29th Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Cardiff, UK, 1/11/2006 - 1/11/2006.
Andrews, R., Rouse, J. (2005) 'Integrating New Business Practices into SMEs: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers.' 3/11/2005 -
Rouse, J.C. (2005) 'Pregnancy and Maternity in Self-Employment: Individualised Social Reproduction?.' In 28th Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference. Blackpool, UK, 1/11/2005 - 1/11/2005.
Rouse, J.C., Boles, K. (2005) 'Enterprise Programmes: Including the Disadvantaged in Sustainable Small Businesses?.' In 28th Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Blackpool, UK, 1/11/2005 - 1/11/2005.
Rouse, J.C. (2005) 'Women, Pregnancy and the Maternity Period in Self-Employment.' In Gender, Work and Organisation Conference. Keele University, UK, 1/6/2005 - 1/6/2005.
Jones, G., O'Sullivan, A., Rouse, J.C. (2005) 'Planners, Searchers and Escapers? Inter-generational Relations and Partnership Formation.' In British Sociological Association Studies Group Conference - Time, Space and Family Practices. Keele University, UK, 14/1/2005 - 15/1/2005.
Rouse, J.C., Boles, K. (2004) 'New Entrepreneur Scholarships: Delivering the Action Plan for Small Business?.' In 27th International Small Business Conference. Gateshead, Newcastle, UK, 1/11/2004 - 1/11/2004.
Rouse, J.C., Kitching, J. (2004) 'Do Enterprise Support Programmes Leave Women Holding the Baby?.' In 27th International Small Business Conference. Gateshead, Newcastle, UK, 1/11/2004 - 1/11/2004.
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Theses and dissertations
Andrews, R. (2006) Is Growth a Destination? Small firms as complex adaptive systems.
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Other
Rouse, J.C. (2011) Gender and Enterprise Network Event: The Gendering of Entreneurship.
Rouse, J.C. (2010) Early Career Fellowship.
Rouse, J.C. (2008) Frameworks for Enterprise learning and enterprise culture.
Rouse, J.C. (2006) A Review of Evidence regarding Factors likely to Promote Business Growth and Enterprise Inclusion.
Rouse, J.C. (2006) Evaluation of the New Entrepreneur Scholarship Programme.
Rouse, J.C. (2005) Local Enterprise Growth Initiative in Tameside: a series of supporting research.