Raj Patel, MBE, Assistant Director of Research and Policy, biography
Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Economics, Masters in Business Studies.
Expertise:
Economic development and regeneration, learning and skills, social inclusion and cohesion, enterprise and entrepreneurship, neighbourhood renewal, policy analysis and advocacy.
Experience:
Prior to joining LSN in November 2008, Raj was the Director of Policy at Enterprise Insight, the UK’s national enterprise campaign founded by four leading UK businesses. His role at Enterprise Insight was to promote policies that would contribute to a step change in enterprise culture and provide momentum for change by stimulating debate and ideas.
Raj’s career history also includes heading up the Research and Development Department at the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Communities and Local Government). There, he was responsible for stimulating research and evaluation to underpin the Government’s National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. Raj has also worked at the local and regional level, spending four years at Greater London Enterprise.
Research and other interests:
Raj is the author of a number of reports on economic development, regeneration and diversity. He is a member of the Institute of Economic Development, a Trustee of the Black Training and Enterprise Group, and an Editorial board member of the Local Economy Journal. In his spare time, Raj enjoys rambling and watching cricket.