Javed Ghulam Hussain

Professor of Entrepreneurial Finance

Email:: javed.hussain@bcu.ac.uk

Professor Hussain is an expert in entrepreneurial and SME finance. Over the last three decades, his research has explored why viable small businesses struggle to access capital, and what that means for growth, inclusion and the transition to a sustainable economy. His early work on bank lending to ethnic minority entrepreneurs, published in Regional Studies and The British Accounting Review, helped bring a previously overlooked part of the UK economy into mainstream finance research. His research now covers access to finance for ethnic minority, women and graduate entrepreneurs, and SME finance policy, from financial literacy to university entrepreneurial ecosystems. He also works on green and sustainable finance, including green patient capital, environmental taxes, and green and diaspora bonds, as well as on fintech, microfinance and women’s empowerment in emerging economies.

He has co-edited three books: Financial Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise in Developing and Emerging Economies (Springer, 2025), Entrepreneurial Financial Resilience and Financial Innovation in a Turbulent Era (Edward Elgar, 2023) and the Research Handbook on Entrepreneurial Finance (Edward Elgar, 2015). His articles appear in journals including Venture Capital, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, the Journal of Environmental Management, the Journal of International Development, the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development and the International Journal of Finance and Economics. He has guest-edited special issues of Venture Capital, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management and Strategic Change, and his research has been funded by Access Bank Ghana (£180,000), the Global Challenges Research Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

He has contributed to four successive REF exercises, including impact case studies, and is Lead for BCU’s REF2029 submission. He has supervised 34 PhDs and 2 DBAs to completion, examined more than 50 doctorates at over 20 universities worldwide, and chaired 14 vivas. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Studies in Business and Economics and Financial Internet Quarterly, and reviews for journals including the Journal of Business Venturing and the International Small Business Journal. His work has been recognised with the Emerald Literati Outstanding Reviewer Award and Best Paper awards at the ISBE and Family Business and Entrepreneurship conferences.

He founded the international Financial Innovation and Enterprise (FIE) Conference and organises BCU’s annual Entrepreneurial Finance conference with ISBE. He advises Access Bank Ghana on green finance for SMEs, has delivered executive training for SME Corp Malaysia and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, and has been an external examiner and validation adviser for universities including Lancaster, Westminster, Coventry and Oxford Brookes.

Since joining BCU in 1990, he has served as Acting Head of the Department of Finance, Director of MPhil/PhD Programmes and Director of the DBA. Before entering academia, he was a Senior Financial Analyst with Midland Bank’s Forward Trust Group (now HSBC) and a Finance Officer with Birmingham City Council. He welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD students in entrepreneurial finance, green and sustainable finance, fintech and SME finance.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Rahman, S.U., Hussain, J. and Khan, M.I., 2026. Shadow economy and ecological footprint: the moderating role of environmental taxes. Journal of Economic Studies, pp.1-21.
Sandhu, N., Hussain, J. and Matlay, H., 2026. Can entrepreneurship education and training assist women entrepreneurs to make agritourism a success story in India?. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 33(2), pp.476-499.
Owen, R., Deffains-Crapsky, C., Hussain, J. and Mac an Bhaird, C., 2026. Financing SME green and sustainable innovation. Venture Capital, pp.1-12.
Schans, D., Owen, R, Hussain, J.G., (2025), The Green Patient Capital Problem for Technology Start-up and Scale-up Businesses. Journal of Venture Capital, October 2025.
Alhassan, Y., Salia, S., Hussain, J.G. and Cantafio, G.U., (2025). Financial Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise in Developing and Emerging Economies: Modern FinTech Solutions to Ensure Inclusivity and Accessibility.
Bailey, C.A., Hussain, J.G. and Psychogios, A., 2025. Grandiose narcissism and entrepreneurship: a conceptual framework and future research agenda. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(3), pp.629-649.
Sami Ur Rahman, S; Khan, I.A; Hussain, J; Khan, M, I. (2025). From shadow to sustainability: How informality, environmental taxes, and green innovation reshape carbon and biodiversity futures in the G7 countries. Journal of Environmental Management; Volume 393, October 2025, 127153
Schans, D., Owen, R, Hussain, J.G., (2025), The Green Patient Capital Problem for Technology Start-up and Scale-up Businesses. Journal of Venture Capital, October 2025.
Sandhu, N., Hussain J.G., Matlay, H., (2025), Can entrepreneurship education and training assist women entrepreneurs to make agritourism a success story in India? Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.
Sandhu, N., Hussain J.G. (2025), Can Entrepreneurship Education and Training Assist Women Entrepreneurs to Make Agritourism a Success Story in India? Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
Khan, M.I. and Hussain, J.G., (2025). Informal venture capital in emerging economies: a case of Pakistan. Venture Capital, pp.1-20.
Sandhu, N., Hussain J.G. and Scott, J. (2024) Mediating agricultural entrepreneurship through embracing blockchain technology: A tale from small rural enterprises in an emerging economy. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research.
Owen, R., L., Vedanthachari, L. N and Hussain, J., and. (2023), The Role of the University Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Entrepreneurial Finance: Case Studies of UK Innovation Knowledge Centres, Venture Capital.
Hussain, J., Karimu, A., Salia, S. and Owen, R., (2022). Does the cost of energy matter for innovation? The effects of energy prices on SME innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research.
Tingbani, Ishmael and Salia, Samuel and Hussain, Javed and Alhassan, Yahaya (2021) “Environmental tax, SME financing constraint and Innovation: Evidence from OECD Countries”. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
Ishmael, T.; Samuel, S. Hussain, J.G. and Alhassan, Y (2021). SME financing constraint and Innovation: Evidence from OECD Countries, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
Owusu-Manu, D; Mankata, L; Edwards, D; El-Gohary, H; Hussain, J., (2021). Cognisance of Green Bond Features Preferential to Renewable Energy Project Financing in Ghana, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management (Forthcoming).
Khan, M. I., Hussain, G.J., Badshah, I., Khattak, A., 2021). Stock Return Behaviour around Earnings Disclosure,’ International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change 15(3). pp371-395)
Sandhu, N., Hussain J.G., 2021. Entrepreneurship the mediating role of finance and entrepreneurial education for small farmers in developing countries: Evidence from India. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research (F
Karimu, A., Salia, S. Hussain, J. G., 2021. ‘The impact of refinery and oil demand shocks on the motor fuel market in Sweden,’ International Journal of Finance and Economics
Hussain, J., Sandhu, N., El-Gohary, H. and Edwards, D.J., 2020. The Reality of Financing Small Tourism Firms: The Case of Indian Tourism SMEs. International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management (IJCRMM), 11(1), pp.64-80.
Karimu, A., Salia, S. Hussain, J.G., and Tingbani, I. (2019). ‘Are Competitive Microfinance Services Worth Regulating? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa,’ International Journal of Finance and Economics, DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.1800
Hussain, J. G., Mahmood, S., Scott, J. (2019). ‘Gender, Microcredit and Poverty Alleviation in a Developing Country,’ Journal of International Development
Nkwocha, O., Hussain, J. G., El-Gohary, H. Edwards, D. and Ovia, E. (2019). ‘Dynamics of Group Lending Mechanism and the Role of Group Leaders in Developing Countries: Evidence from Nigeria’, International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management (IJCRMM),
Owen, R., Mac an Bhaird, C., Hussain, J. G., and Botelho, T., 2019. ‘Contemporary innovations in entrepreneurial finance: Implications for future policy,’ Strategic Change, 28(1), pp.5-8.
Rehman Rr, R., Hussain, J.G. and Asghar, N. (2019). ‘Are Disaggregate Industrial Returns Sensitive to Economic Policy Uncertainty,’ Physica A
Scott, J. M. and Hussain, J.G. (2019). ‘Exploring intersectionality issues in entrepreneurial finance: Policy responses and future research directions’, Journal of Strategic Change. PP.1 – 9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsc.2244
Hussain, J. G., Salia, S., & Karim, A. (2018). ‘Is knowledge that powerful? Financial literacy and access to finance: An analysis of enterprises in the UK,’ Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 25(6), 985-1003.
Rehman Rr, R., Shah, S.M.A., and Hussain. J.G. (2018). ‘Commonalities of Equity Market Fundamentals and Return Comovements: An Emerging and Frontier Market Perspective’, Revista Evidenciacao Contabil & Financas, ISSN 2318 – 1001, Joao Pessoa, V. XX, n. XX, p. XX-XX, XX. /XX.201X
Salia, S., Hussain, J. G. and Tingbani, I., (2018). ‘The Unintended consequences of microfinance for women’s empowerment’, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research., pp.273-289.
Aninze, F., El-Gohary, and Hussain, J.G. (2018). ‘The Role of Microfinance to Empower Women: The Case of Developing Countries’, International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management
Salia, S., Hussain, J. G., Tingbani, I., & Kolade, O. (2018). ‘Is women empowerment a zero-sum game? Unintended consequences of microfinance for women’s empowerment in Ghana,’ International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 24(1), 273-289.
Imronudin, I. and Hussain, J.G., (2016). ‘Why do bank finance clients prefer mark-up to profit loss sharing principles? Evidence from Islamic Rural Banks and small to medium enterprises in Indonesia,’ International Journal of Economics and Financial issues, 6(4): pp.1407-1412.
Shah, S., El-Gohary, H., and Hussain, J., (2015), an investigation of Market Orientation and Tourism SMEs Performance in Developing Countries: A review of the literature, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing.
Hussain, J. G., Scott, J.M., Matlay, H. (2015). Ethnic entrepreneurship in reverse in the UK: 1s there gender bias in access to finance for South Asian women entrepreneurs? Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. Forthcoming in end of 13/4
Scott, J. M., Harrison, R.T., Hussain, J. and Millman, C. (2014). ‘The role of guanxi networks in the performance of women-led firms in China’, invited submission to special issue of International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 6 (1): 68-82.
Mahmood, S., Hussain, G.H., and Matlay. H. (2014). ‘Optimal microfinance loan size and poverty reduction amongst female entrepreneurs in Pakistan’ International Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 21, No. 2. Pp.231 – 249
Hussain, J. G., Scott, J.M., and Matlay, H. (2014). Ethnic entrepreneurship in reverse in the UK: 1s there gender bias in access to finance for South Asian women entrepreneurs? International Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. Forthcoming in end of 14/15,
Scott, J.M., Harrison, R.T., Hussain, J. and Millman, C. (2013) 'The role of guanxi networks in the performance of women-led firms in China', invited submission to special issue of International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.
Matlay, H. and Hussain, J.G. (2012) ‘The future of entrepreneurship education in the UK’s ‘Big Society’ Industry and Higher Education, 26 (6 6): 521-530.
Navjot, S., Hussain, J. G. and Matlay, H. (2012) "Entrepreneurship education and training needs of family businesses operating in the agricultural sector of India", Education + Training, Vol. 54 Iss: 8/9, pp.727 – 743
Sandhu, N., Hussain, J.G. and Matlay, H. (2012) "Barriers to finance experienced by female owner/managers of marginal farms in India", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 19 Iss: 4, pp.640 – 655
Demirbas, D., Hussain, J.G., & Matlay, H., (2011), “Owner-Managers' Perceptions of Barriers to Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Turkish SMEs”, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 18 (4): 764-780
Dhaliwal, S., Scott, J.M. and Hussain, J. G. (2010) ‘Help or Hindrance? South Asian Women in the Family Firm’, Electronic Journal of Family Business Studies, 1 (4).
Hussain, Javed G. and Scott, Jonathan M. and Harrison, Richard T. and Millman, Cindy (2010) “Enter the dragoness”: firm growth, finance, guanxi, and gender in China. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 25 (2). pp. 137-156. ISSN 1754-2413
Matlay, Harry and Hussain, Javed G. and Scott, Jonathan M. and Matlay, Harry (2010) The impact of entrepreneurship education on succession in ethnic minority family firms. Education + Training, 52 (8/9). pp. 643-659. ISSN 0040-0912
Hussain, J. and Matlay, H. and Scott, J.M. (2008) Financial education in small ethnic minority businesses in the UK. Education and Training, 50 (8-9). pp. 737-747. ISSN 00400912
Hussain, J.G., Scott, J.M. and Hannon, P. (2008). ‘The new generation: Characteristics and motivations of BME graduate entrepreneurs’, Education + Training, 50 (7): 582-596.
Hussain, J.G, Scott, J.M., Millman, C., Hannon, P. and Matlay, H. (2007) ‘Ethnic minority graduate entrepreneurs in the UK: Characteristics, motivations and access to Finance’, Industry & Higher Education, 21 (6): 455-463.
Hussain, J. G., Millman, C., Scott, J. and Hannon, P. (2007) ‘Black and minority ethnic graduate entrepreneurs: Motivations, characteristics and access to finance’, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Industry Higher Education. Volume: 50, No. 7, pp.582- 596
Hussain, J.G. and Matlay H. (2007). ‘Financing Preferences of Ethnic Small Businesses in the UK’, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. Volume: 14, No. 3, pp.487- 500
Hussain, J.G. and Matlay H. (2007). ‘Vocational educational in Small Ethnic Minority Businesses in the UK’, Journal of Education and Training Journal of Education and Training. Volume: 49, No. 8/9. Pp.671-685
Hussain, J. G., Millman, C. and Matlay, H. (2006). ‘SMEs Financing in the UK and in China: A Comparative Perspective’, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 13, No.4, pp. 584 – 599.
Martin, C., Hussain, J.G. and Shelton, R. (2006). ‘Accountancy practices and the provision of ownership succession advice’, Cyprus International Journal of Management. Vol. 10(1)
Hussain, J.G & Sandhu, N (2006). ‘Finance Gap amongst Smaller Farmers in India’, Punjab, Research Journal of Amity Global Business Review, Vol.2.
Hussain, J & Zhang, S (2004). ‘The challenge of financing small firms in UK and China and its implications for Developing Economies’, Research Journal of Amity Global Business Review, Vol.1.
Book review: Smith, R.L. and Smith J.K. (2004). ‘Finance for Entrepreneurial Finance. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 11, 2, p.264.
Hussain, J.G. & Deakins, D. (1994). ‘Financial Information, The Banker and Small Business: A comment’. The British Accounting Review, Vol.26, No 4.
Deakins, D., Hussain, J.G. & Ram, M. (1994). ‘Ethnic Entrepreneurs and Commercial Banks: Untapped Potential’. Regional Studies Policy Review Section, Vol. 29.1, pp. 73-100.
Deakins, D. & Hussain, J.G. (1994). ‘Risk Assessment with Asymmetric Information’, The International Journal of bank Marketing, 12, pp. 24-31.
Deakins, D. & Hussain, J.G. (1993). ‘Risk Assessment with Asymmetric Information: a case study of lending decisions by bank officers.’ UKMER Journal, 3(2), pp.11-23.

Books Published

Alhassan, Y., Salia, S., Hussain, J.G. and Cantafio, G.U., 2025. Financial Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise in Developing and Emerging Economies: Modern FinTech Solutions to Ensure Inclusivity and Accessibility.

Hussain, J.G., Samuel, S. and Scott, J. (2023). Entrepreneurial financial resilience and financial innovation in a turbulent era: Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Hussain, J.G. and Scott, J. (2015). International Research Handbook on Entrepreneurial Finance Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Chapters in Books

Alhassan, Y., Salia, S., Hussain, J. and Cantafio, G.U., 2026. Managing Financial Risk in the Era of Climate Change: Strategies for Adaptation and Mitigation in the Banking Sector.

Salia, S., Nyantakyi, E.B., Hussain, J., Ofosu-Hene, E. and Alhassan, Y., 2026. Leveraging Diaspora Bonds for Climate Projects in Developing and Emerging Economies. In Financial Innovation and Sustainable Enterprise in Developing and Emerging Economies: Modern FinTech Solutions to Ensure Inclusivity and Accessibility (pp. 23-39). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Hussain J.G. Scott J. and Jones W.P. (2025), Entrepreneurship and Small Business - Collection of Research, Policy and Personal Insights in Honour of the Contributions of David Storey: Edited by Saridakis G. and Mitra: Palgrave Macmillan

Nkwocha, O.U., Hussain, J., El-Gohary, H., Edwards, D.J. and Ovia, E., 2023. Dynamics of group lending mechanism and the role of group leaders in developing countries: evidence Nigeria. In Research Anthology on Microfinance Services and Roles in Social from Progress (pp. 151-170). IGI Global.

Scott, J. M., Hussain, J., Salia, J. and Deakins, D., (2023) ‘Entrepreneurial financial resilience and financial innovation in a turbulent era’, in Hussain, J., Salia, S. and Scott, J. M. (Eds) International Research Handbook on Entrepreneurial Finance. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Sandhu, N., Hussain, J. and Shishank, S. (2023). Changing Landscape of Indian Farming: Smart Agriculture a way forward. Chapter in Book India at 75, Thoughts and Reflections edited by Makhan Singh, Steven McCabe and Beverley Nielsen, Bite-sized: London.
Nkwocha, O., Hussain, G.J., El-Gohary El-Gohary., Edwards, J. D., and Ovia, E., (2022). Dynamics of Group Lending Mechanism and the Role of Group Leaders in Developing Countries: Evidence from Nigeria

Salia, S. Hussain, J., Alhassan, Y. and Ibrahim, M. (2021), “The impact of entrepreneurial and behavioural framework on Diaspora remittance: An African perspective”. pp. 145-169. In: Kolade, Oluwaseun and Rae, David and Obembe, Demola and Woldesenbet, Beta K. (Eds). The Palgrave Handbook of African Entrepreneurship. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-030-75894-. 50% contribution

Sandhu, N. Scott, J. Hussain, J. Gibb, J. Sinha, P. and Akoorie, M. (2017) ‘Women Entrepreneurs, Informal finance, and Microenterprise Growth in Rural India: An Exploratory Study. Measuring an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Sandhu, N., Scott, J. M., Gibb, J. Hussain, J. G., Akoorie. M. and Sinha, P. (2016). Exploring Entrepreneurial Finance and Gender in an Emergent Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: the case of the Punjab, northern India, in S. Fielden and M. Davidson (Eds) International Research Handbook on Successful Women Entrepreneurs, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Sandhu, N. Hussain, J., and Matlay, H. (2015) ‘Informal Lenders and Small/Marginal farmers in India: An Unregulated Sociological Symbiotic Relationship?’, in Hussain, J. and Scott, J. (Eds) International Research Handbook on Entrepreneurial Finance. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.

Sandhu, N. Hussain, J. and Matlay, H., (2014) ‘Entrepreneurship education and training needs of family businesses operating in the agricultural sector of India’, in S. Fielden and M. Davidson (Eds) International Research Handbook on Successful Women Entrepreneurs, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.