About

My main interests are in sustainable business, system leadership, change and how people learn to become leaders. I co-lead the Sustainable Business and Green Growth research group which strives to develop robust, applied and impactful (place-based) research outcomes that support the shift towards a sustainable future. Between 2016-2023, I led the Derbyshire Net Zero Accelerator, the DE-Carbonise Smart Factory projects and the Low Carbon Business Network that offered business support to SMEs supplying eco-friendly, low carbon and sustainable goods and services across the East Midlands.

Research interests

My main research explores the features of pro-environmental enterprise support (PEES) provision. This ongoing collaborative action research with PEES providers from across the UK aims to help ensure national policy and regional providers are able to deliver the most effective training and support for SMEs on the journey to a net zero future.

I am also interested in the role that leadership plays in supporting sustainable transformation, the skills and qualities required to lead this transition and how businesses and other organisations collaborate to accelerate the shift towards a low-carbon economy. 

In 2016, I set up a unique longitudinal study, that continues to map the growth of the Low Carbon Sector in the D2N2 region.

Recent publications

Selected peer reviewed papers:

• Paterson, F., Gallotta, B. & Baranova, P. (2024). Building an empirically grounded conceptual frame for business networking as a mechanism for pro-environmental business growth. Local Economy, 38:5, 484-585
• Paterson, F., Baranova, P., & Gallotta, B. (2022). Towards a conceptual framework of enterprise support for pro-environmental small and medium-sized enterprises: A contextualised review of diverse knowledge domains. Local Economy, 37(3), 142–168
• Knight, B & Paterson, F (2018) Behavioural competencies of sustainability leaders: An empirical investigation. Journal of Organizational Change Management. Vol. 31 Issue: 3, pp.557-580
• Paterson, F (2017) Leadership and the Low Carbon Economy in Baranova, Conway, Lynch & Paterson. The low carbon economy: Understanding and supporting a sustainable transition. London. Palgrave Macmillan
• Pearce, W & Paterson, F (2017) The influence of policy, public service and local politics on the shift to a Low Carbon Economy in the East Midlands in Baranova et al. (ibid.)

A full up-to-date list of my publications can be found at www.researchgate.net/profile/Fred-Paterson/publications 

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the British Academy of Management

Professional interests

Keep up-to-date with my professional activity at www.linkedin.com/in/fredpaterson/ 

My role involves collaborating with a variety of regional and national organisations that include Universities, local councils, Chambers of Commerce, Local Enterprise Partnerships, skills providers and non-governmental organisations. My specialist interests:

• Sustainable business support
• Systems innovation, sustainability and change leadership
• Leadership Learning - coaching, action learning and communities of practice

Qualifications

• PhD in professional learning - University of Nottingham (1999)
• MEd Open Programme - University of Sheffield (1992)
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education - Kingston Polytechnic (1987)
• BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - University of Nottingham (1983)

Recent conferences

We host a Sustainability Summit every year in collaboration with the East Midlands Chamber. In 2024, the event will be held at the University of Derby Kedleston Road site on 12 September.

• Paterson, F (2019) Accelerating the Shift to a Low Carbon Economy. Instituto Politecnico Nacional. Mexico City. October 2019
• Paterson, F. (2019) Building a dynamic model of change for sustainability leadership. British Academy of Management Conference, University of Aston, Birmingham. September 2019
• Paterson, F (2018) Leadership for Sustainability. British Academy of Management. Responsible and Sustainable Business SIG. Feb 2018
• Paterson, F. & Baranova, P. (2018) Competitiveness through responsible supply chains and resource efficiency: A regional outlook. Derby, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce
• Paterson, F (2014) Accelerating the shift to a Low Carbon Economy: What kind of local leadership do we need? Sustainable Innovation Conference. Copenhagen. November 2014

Experience in industry

I have 30+ years of experience in public sector organisations, such as schools, Local Authorities, Universities and the National College for School Leadership - where I held senior roles in research and leadership development for ten years. I was also an Associate of the Virtual Staff College (who provide leadership development nationally for Directors of Children's Services) where I co-facilitated the national Mentor Induction for Directors of Children's Services Programme and provided coaching and action learning training for senior managers in several local authorities in the East of England.

In 2017, I founded the Low Carbon Business Network which offered business support to more than 250 SMEs pursuing the journey to Net Zero across the East Midlands and co-hosted the Low Carbon Business Podcast which showcases SMEs that are at the leading edge of sustainable and regenerative practices.

I also run my own consultancy (Accelerate the Shift) which is a social enterprise dedicated to creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future through collaborative learning experiences. 

Teaching responsibilities

• PhD/DBA Supervisor
• Module Leader for MSc Sustainable and Ethical Business Management
• Invited lecturer on sustainable business on a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate Modules
• Research Methods supervision for Independent Studies postgraduate dissertations