“Our goal is to leave things better than we found them”. (Shann Nix-Jones, MBE) The mid Wales town of Llandysul, population circa 1300, is the home of the 2022 World Dairy Awards winner of the Best Probiotic Dairy, Chuckling Goat.…
Read More The Chuckling Goat Story: Healing, Holding and Hoping
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2018 was a good year for Felicity and I. We launched the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society (https:// harmonious-entrerpreneurship.org/) not only to promote what became an award-winning concept but to address the global sustainability challenge, something entrepreneurship had contributed…
Read More Contributing to GEW 2025: Why Harmonious Entrepreneurship Matters Now
“We all need to play our part in protecting the environment and we encourage everyone to join us in reducing plastic waste through greener and cleaner alternatives” (Emilio Rimini, Managing Director, The Green Co) According to Sir Richard Branson, who…
Read More The School Project that Grew into a Global Eco-Business
“We are resilient, ambitious and committed to working together towards a healthier, happier and more prosperous future for our village and the region. Collaboration and determination are at the heart of everything we do”. (Mari Arthur). Dr Justin John, a…
Read More Tetrim Teas: Brewing a Sustainable Future in Wales
“Here at Ella’s Kitchen we try really hard to be good in sense – not just through the good food we make but also by doing good stuff for our environment and giving stuff back to our local communities” (Paul…
Read More Ella’s Kitchen and Paul Lindley : A Recipe for Ethical Business and Social Impact
David and I are delighted to share that our chapter features in the newly published Circular Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Trends, edited by Professor João J. Ferreira, Professor Magnus Klofsten, and Professor David Urbano. This book offers a…
Read More Celebrating new HES chapter on Circular Economy Entrepreneurship (CEship)
Following the inspiring momentum of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 (GEW2024) last week, we reflect on the incredible ways entrepreneurship transcended traditional boundaries this year, fostering pathways for meaningful and sustainable change. Fresh from success at ISBE 2024 with research on…
From Enterprise Education to Action! Incredibly excited to begin to peel back the curtains on an organically unfolding rich tapestry of effort, networking, engagement and visionary ambition. The Harmonious Heroes Initiative represents months of dedicated work, building on layers of…
Read More Empowering Llanelli’s Future: The Harmonious Heroes Initiative Takes Flight
HES showcasing new research at LSW ECR Network Colloquium, June 18 2024 Yesterday I had the privilege of contributing to the Learned Society of Wales's second ECR Network Colloquium, hosted by Bangor University under the theme "A Connected Wales." This…
Read More HES Peace Publication launched @ LSW ECR Colloquium, Bangor University
Delighted to welcome back a new delegation as part of the UWTSD Executive Leadership Programme aimed at supporting the Global Futures Initiative, based at the UWTSD’s Lampeter campus. This initiative is crucial in developing future leaders who are equipped to…
Read More Supporting the UWTSD Maharashtra Future Leaders Programme: From Policy to Practice
We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest research paper, "Harmonious Entrepreneurship: A Sustainable Model for Addressing Global Inequality," in the Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies by Emerald Publishing. This study demonstrates how the disruptive HES entrepreneurial business…
A special update to announce our chapter in "Extracurricular Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Activity: A Global and Holistic Perspective, Vol: 19," expertly edited by Dr Sarah Preedy and Dr Emily Beaumont. The contribution of myself and David is on the Beta…
“I was diagnosed with dyslexia at 35, which explained some of my behaviour and attributes growing up, but back then I did not understand why I acted in certain circumstances” - Chris Leslie, ex offender and Director of Inside Out…
Read More Breaking the Cycle: Inside Out Support Wales’ Mission for Social Change
"Innovation and sustainability aren’t just about what we create, but how we create, and who gets to participate in the process." - Sarah and Julia, Co-founders of The Sustainable Studio In Cardiff, a transformative force is reshaping the creative landscape,…
Read More The Sustainable Studio: Empowering Creative Enterprise and Advancing SDG 16
“The business of business should not just be about money, it should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not personal greed” (Dame Anita Roddick). Possibly the first example of a modern harmonious retail enterprise, The Body Shop…
Read More A Pioneer’s Rise and Ethical Dilemma: A Cautionary Tale of The Body Shop
In November, I had the opportunity to contribute to the new Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Lampeter campus as part of their Global Futures initiative. The pilot programme has been developed to support the…
Congratulations to Dafen Primary School, an EntreCompEdu Pioneer School, for a Spectacular GEW2023 Event title image approved by Dafen Primary School Last Thursday was a remarkable day for Dafen Primary School as they celebrated a 'triple whammy' event during Global…
As we delve into the second day of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023 at Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society, the essence of our mission comes to the fore: instilling entrepreneurial thinking in young minds as a cornerstone for a sustainable and harmonious future.…
Three years ago, in Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020, Felicity and I founded The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society, now a limited spinout company of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, the 2022 Triple E European Entrepreneurial University of the Year. We…
Read More Global Entrepreneurship Week: To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate, That is the Question
It's been a whirlwind of a week for all of us at the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society (HES). From thought-provoking academic panels to community showcases, we've been busy showcasing our mission and impact. Our Voice in Academia: The Panel DiscussionThe journey…
Read More Navigating Academia and Community: A Week in the Life of HES
"At Bee1, we believe that the most sustainable solutions arise at the intersection of education, innovation, and social responsibility." - Bee1 Mark Douglas, former Director of NatWest Bank across Wales and the Chairman/Founder of NatWest Cymru, transitioned from shaping a…
Read More Bee1’s Trailblazing Path Fostering Climate Awareness in School
Today I learned that Christine Samy Habib has been awarded a Senior Lectureship at Leeds Trinity University. I first met her in 2007 when I left the UK to help set up what was essentially a social enterprise, the British…
David and I are thrilled to report on our recent contributions to the 17th International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference (IEEC) hosted this year by the University of Surrey, where, once again, colleagues and peers in enterprise and entrepreneurship education from the…
Read More Shining Together: Celebrating the team at IEEC2023 and the Harmonious Path Ahead
In the words of the 1963 Cliff Richard “Summer Holiday” song “We’re all goin’ on a Summer holiday, No more work in’ for a week or two”. That being the case, we want to reflect on our achievements at the…
Wales has in place a series of policies and strategies to address the sustainability challenge and recognises the important role that education can play in ensuring that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future…
Read More HES contributing to Sustainability and Prosperity at Learned Society of Wales Colloquium
What a remarkable few months it has been for Felicity, which the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society is delighted to celebrate. First she successfully defended her Doctoral thesis on 14th February, 2023, then she received her Doctoral Certificate, dated 5th May, her…
Read More HES celebrates doctoral and entrepreneurial journey
“Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate are at the forefront of sustainable chocolate innovation” - Richard Koch, British Entrepreneur, Management Consultant and Angel Investor The name Cadbury is world famous, especially in the world of chocolate and confectionery. The Quaker, John…
“I used to channel my energies into the wrong things. I was successful but now I know that if I had channelled my energies into something positive I could have succeeded there too”. (Cooper an ex-offender and Tap Social employee)…
Read More Tap Social: Brewing Change Through Beer, Baking & Second Chances
David and I are thrilled to report our participation in the Charterhouse School Sustainability Conference, that took place on March 14th in Surrey. The conference brought together educators, students, and thought leaders to share and discuss ways in which we can…
David, Iman, and I are delighted to see the publication of the Emerald Publication "Bleeding Edge Entrepreneurship" edited by João J. Ferreira and Patrick J. Murphy. Our chapter (3) is entitled "The Leopard's spots are changing: an evolutionary approach to ecological…
Read More HES contributes to new Emerald Entrepreneurship publication
Our EntreCompEdu Pioneer pupils of Dafen Primary School, Wales supported by UWTSD continue to shine bright as they spotlight their growing entrepreneurial competence whilst remaining focused on their sustainability commitment. Taking the opportunity to celebrate their third Global Entrepreneurship Week…
Read More Dafen School showcases fun and focused entrepreneurship education for GEW2022
Fifteen years ago, I proposed the need for a new entrepreneurship education paradigm (Kirby, 2007). At the International Enterprise Educators Conference (IEEC2022) hosted by Swansea University last week, similar calls were made once more. First, in his keynote address, Professor…
Read More Harmonious Entrepreneurship & its systems thinking roots
The academic conference “is a way of converting work into play, combining professionalism with tourism” (David Lodge, 1935-). After a whirlwind first 6 months of 2022 in which we Beta tested the Online Harmonious Entrepreneurship global student competitionPublished 4 book…
First as a member of the University of WaIes Trinity Saint David team, I would like to thank all of our friends and colleagues on LinkedIn for their kind words and support with respect to the two awards received at…
David and I are so appreciative of the time, energy and expertise committed by all our international expert judging panel of the first Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society (ltd) Graduate Enterprise Competition. We look forward to our celebrations tomorrow. Good luck to…
Read More Countdown to HES enterprise competition Awards – meet the panel
The Online Harmonious Entrepreneurship Competition stage 2 pitches ran this week and we thank our judging panel and all the teams of staff and students who participated, and look forward to announcing the winners at the end of the month.…
wastes pic: Bath.ac.uk While research is intended to identify solutions to problems, laboratory-based research can also contribute to them, in particular to the current sustainability challenge. Annually some 5.5 million tonnes of single-use plastic is produced by life sciences research…
Read More LabCycle – revolutionising the recycling of Laboratory Plastic Waste
We are pleased to announce that The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society has now completed the first round of its Online Competition beta testing. Six teams from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and the International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW)…
Read More Round 2 of the HES Harmonious Enterprise Online Competition
We are thrilled to share the successful launch of the first Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society Online Enterprise Competition, in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity St. David and International University of Malaya-Wales. A mix of share and signpost, to help…
Read More Launch Event opens first HES Online Enterprise Competition
“The bee is more honoured than other animals not because she labours but because she labours for others” - Saint John Chrysostom, 347-407 Apart from being a source of food, medicine and wax, bees are a source of life on…
The HES is pleased to announce that at an Award Ceremony on 21st December 2021 Professor David Kirby and our advisor; Dr Iman El Kaffass, were each awarded an ICSB Mini Globe Award. These awards are made in recognition of…
Like Nelson Mandela, we at the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society believe that "Education is the most powerful weapon you have to change the world". While our primary target is tertiary education, we believe it is never too soon to start, particularly…
"I want to see people feeling that they're proud of working for [Burns Pet Nutrition Ltd] and [for them to] put that bit extra in, in terms of the activities we're engaged in" - John Burns In the heart of rural…
Thank you to AdvanceHE for publishing David's message today on 'What next for our universities? The Lessons form COP26' We are keen to share, and encourage a read. Click here https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-views/what-next-our-universities-lessons-cop26 -
In the press. Big thank you to Dr Kathryn Penaluna, UWTSD, and the Western Mail for our front page space in 'Education Wales' last week (11/11/2021) during GEW2021. We were thrilled to be part of the GEW2021 celebrations and we…
Kay Luan Tay, the recent Vice Chancellor of the International University Malaya-Wales and author of three book on Social and Business Sustainability has wide but unique experience in managing and delivering value across both commercial and non-commercial enterprise. A strong…
Read More GEW2021 interview: the mind behind the investing in others for sustainable futures
image credit: girl: I.am_nah Another Wales-based case study to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship 2021 #GEW2021 “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free”. ( Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865) While slavery was abolished in most countries 150 or more…
Read More Welsh Manumit Coffee Roasters – freedom through coffee
a week of activity to celebrate GEW2021 A lot has happened in the 12 months since we launched the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society in GEW 2020. Not only have we published the conceptual article on which the Society is based but…
The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society is proud to announce Professor David A Kirby, holder of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, has been appointed as a 'Professor of Practice' at the University of Wales Trinity St David, Wales. The University has…
Read More Professor David A. Kirby appointed as UWTSD Professor of Practice
This week the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society would like to draw attention to the growing bank of free cases studies built up during our first year. They are available in our blog archives, case study link on our front page, and…
Thrilled to signpost that Professor David A. Kirby and Dr Iman El-Kaffass's Harmonious entrepreneurship – a new approach to the challenge of global sustainability | Emerald Insight is now available online and in print. A perfect Sunday morning read. The…
"Integrating different entrepreneurial sectors allows us to stand together, stronger and more capable than ever before" shares Dr Ayman El-Tarabishy (Executive Director of the International Council for Small Business) in the recently published article "Humane, Sustainable, and Harmonious Entrepreneurship: Shifting…
credit: seed (Photo by Joshua Lanzarini) This last week, Felicity and I have been busy promoting Harmonious Entrepreneurship “in the flesh” so to speak. First, we spoke twice at the 15th annual Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK) conference hosted by Aston University (ieec.co.uk).…
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn"- Benjamin Fanklin 1706-1790 We are excited to share with you all, our dedicated HES supporters, that the first iteration of our foundation level online course…
Read More HES MOOC – Principles of Harmonious Entrepreneurship launched
Antur Cymru (Welsh Adventure) is a social enterprise providing support for businesses in Wales. Owned by shareholders in the community who do not profit individually from their investment, they have agreed surpluses should be reinvested in the company. It was…
Read More “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world” (Margaret Mead)
The HES has been extra busy these couple of weeks getting key messages out to new and established networks, so I thought I'd share a snapshot. Today, Professor David Kirby, myself, and Paul Ranson, our very skilled HES advisor teamed…
For two student entrepreneurs, Josh Shefner and Claire Friona, long-established idioms are a living reality. Both are students of Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering, and both are passionate about poverty elimination and the eradication of waste. They are also…
Read More “Waste not want not” (1772, idiom) or “wilful waste makes woeful want” (1576, idom)
Outside of Wales few people know of Karen Davies but in South Wales, she does what Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank do in Bangladesh. Through her not-for-profit microfinance social enterprise, “Purple Shoots”, which she established in…
Whilst interest in entrepreneurship education has increased over the decades, fuelled by committed advocates such as the European Commission, its implementation remains sporadic, even across countries that have developed relatively comprehensive entrepreneurship programmes. Although it is widely recognised that entrepreneurship…
Read More Entrepreneurship Education in Schools: The Celtic Fringe leads the way
Despite Lionel Bart’s “Oliver” eulogy of food, it is a problem. We need it to live, yet both an excess and a shortage can kill us. Some 850 million people, globally, are believed to be undernourished and each day an…
Read More “Oh Food! Magical food! Wonderful Food! Marvellous Food! Beautiful Food!”
A key part of our work at the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society is getting 'our' message out throughout our international networks. So, hot off the press, to catch up with our work: Felicity's 'Creating Value through the SDGs' video for the…
Read More EntreCompEdu & International Council for Small Business Webinar Videos
At the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society, we recognise the powerful value creation opportunities of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), committed to facilitating their achievement. This week I had the good fortune to lead an educator-centric multi-country webinar tying together the…
Currently, some 2.5 billion people globally do not have access to basic sanitation, and some 1 billion defecate outdoors, exposing themselves, their families and their neighbours to faecal bacteria. As a result, half of the hospital beds in developing countries…
Professor David A Kirby and Mrs Felicity Healey-BensonCo-founders The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society Launched on 11th January, 2021 by HRH The Prince of Wales at the “One Planet” Summit in Paris, the seventeen page Terra Carta is a seminal document that…
Read More Harmonious Entrepreneurship and the Terra Carta: a charter for Nature, People and Planet
The world population is growing at around 83 million people a year or 1.1 per cent. Apart from needing space to accommodate such a population increase, there is another major problem facing the planet. The topsoil responsible for supplying 95%…
Read More Solving one global problem but creating others: the need for Harmonious Entrepreneurship
HES Christmas Message (c) HES2020 by Vanessa Randel His factory in Lapland does not pollute the atmosphere. He has a happy workforce that always delivers on time. His enterprise is customer-focused and aims to meet and exceed expectations. He is…
Read More Father Christmas/Santa Claus, the Harmonious Entrepreneur
It isn't easy to pin down a succinct definition of system thinking. Coined by Barry Richmond in 1987, and rooted in Ludwig Von Bertalanffy’s General Systems Theory and cybernetics, it has evolved over the decades and through many schools of…
Globally tourism accounts for 10.3 per cent of GDP and some 330 million jobs. Thus, it contributes significantly to income generation and job creation and is set to grow further. Traditionally, however, it has not been eco-friendly. Apart from the…
Read More Harmonious Entrepreneurship and the Tourism Industry
Dr Laila Iskander Dr Laila is a former Egyptian Minister of the Environment and founder of CID (Community and International Development) Group, a consulting firm that “strives to create holistic growth solutions by bridging corporate and development objectives”. In 1994 she…
Saltaire The concept of harmonious entrepreneurship is perhaps not entirely new. Possibly one of the earliest proponents of it is the industrial entrepreneur Sir Titus Salt (1803-1876) who, in 1851, built Saltaire, now a UNESCO World Heritage site in the…
Read More Saltaire, a 19th century manifestation of Harmonious Entrepreneurship?
In 1995, at a time when China was opening up to Free Enterprise, my colleague, Dr Fan Ying, and I wrote a paper entitled "Chinese Cultural Values and Entrepreneurship" (Kirby and Fan, 1995). We even won a "Best Paper" award…
Read More Might Harmonious Entrepreneurship be of interest to China?
Today, as Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 unfolds, a new ship ‘The Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society’ is launched. Its destination is clear – a planet that is in harmony, and its course is via entrepreneurship and the principles of holistic systems thinking.…
HES 2020-2025 