Elspeth Barker

Elspeth Barker is the Academic Programme Manager for a post graduate distance learning course in local and regional economic development. This course is managed by a consortium of three universities (Dundee, Coventry and Sheffield Hallam) and the IED Educational Trust. The administration is undertaken at the University of Dundee by Elspeth.

Institute for Economic Development

1981 - BA (Honours) in General Arts, University of Durham

1996 - Open University courses in Environment and Economics

2004 - PhD (School of Town and Regional Planning) University of Dundee

Elspeth graduated in General Arts from the University of Durham in 1981. She worked in arts administration and then managed her own jewellery business for ten years. She returned to university, first by undertaking two Open University courses in Environment and Economics and then by commencing a PhD in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Dundee. She gradated in June 2004 having completed a thesis entitled "Exploration of Sustainable Community Enterprises in Fife". While she worked part time at the PhD Elspeth undertook a range of teaching and research contracts. In a voluntary capacity she was also a director of social firms in Fife and is presently Chair of LETSlink Scotland and a director of CBS Network. Elspeth has been involved in a number of projects that involve her main interests of the social economy and community development. These include community capacity building, community transport, community crèche facilities and social auditing. At present she is working on a two year contract undertaking an external evaluation of an EQUAL DP in England that consists of organisations supporting women entrepreneurs.

Elspeth's particular research interests are in the field of the social economy, social auditing, Local Exchange Trading Systems, community enterprises and community development. This stems both from the academic research undertaken for her PhD as well as her involvement in local and national organisations that support social enterprises.