Nick joined Cardiff Metropolitan University in April 2009 from the School of Planning & Geography, Cardiff University. His main research interests lie in the fields of regional economics, small business and entrepreneurship, networks, business strategy, innovation and creativity. In particular, he is interested in how firms use networks to acquire knowledge and innovate, and the factors that influence the location choices of creative individuals. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an affiliate of the Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
In 2013 Nick co-edited a Regional Studies special issue with Dr Roberta Comunian (King's College London) and Dr Caroline Chapain (University of Birmingham) on 'Creative Regions: Diverging Dynamics for Creative Individuals and Industries between Local Policies and Global Discourses'.
With the same colleagues Nick also guest edited a special issue of the City, Culture and Society on 'Creative industries & creative policies: a European perspective?, 5(2) (June 2014).
Nick has recently co-edited a special issue of European Planning Studies (vol 19 no.11) on 'Companies, cultures, and the region: interactions and outcomes' (November 2011).
Co-guest editor (2010) on a special issue of the Creative Industries Journal 3(1/2) 'Location, location, location: exploring the complex relationship between creative industries and place'.
Journal Articles
An Appropriate Tool for Entrepreneurial Learning in SMEs? the case of the '20Twenty Leadership Programme' (with Robert Huggins, Brian Morgan and Piers Thompson)Local Economy (forthcoming).
Huggins, R., Prokop, D., Steffenson, R., Johnston, A. and Clifton, N. (2014), "The engagement of entrepreneurial firms with universities: Network formation, innovation, and resilience", Journal of General Management, 40 (1), 23-51.
Comunian, R., Chapain, C., and Clifton, N. (2014) Editorial for Special Issue of City, Culture and Society on 'Creative industries & creative policies: a European perspective?, 5(2), 51-53.
Clifton, N., (2014) "Towards a holistic understanding of county of origin effects? branding of the region, branding from the region" Journal of Destination Marketing & Management 3(2), 122–132
Chapain, C., Clifton, N., and Comunian, R., (2013) 'Understanding Creative Regions: Bridging the Gap between Global Discourses and Regional and National Contexts', editorial for Regional Studies special issue on 'Creative Regions: Diverging Dynamics for Creative Individuals and Industries between local policies and global discourses,Vol. 47, No. 2, pp 131-134.
Clifton, N., Cooke, P., and Hansen, H.K. (2013) "Towards a Reconciliation of the 'Context-less' with the 'Space-less'? The Creative Class across Varieties of Capitalism – new evidence from Sweden and the UK", Regional Studies, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp 201-215.
Clifton, N., O'Sullivan, D., and Pickernell, D., (2012) 'Capacity-building, culture, and the contribution of public festivals: evaluating 'Cardiff 2005'', Event Management: an international journal, Vol.16, pp. 77–91.
Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (2011) Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Interactions and Outcomes (Editorial for Special Issue), European Planning Studies Vol. 19, No. 11. pp 1857-1864
Clifton, N. (2011) Regional culture in the market-place: place-branding and product branding as cultural exchange, European Planning Studies Vol. 19, No. 11. pp 1973-1994.
Clifton, N., (2011) "Creativity, culture and regeneration in Britain", British Politics Review, Vol. 6 (1).
Clifton, N., Pickernell, D., Keast, R. and Senior, M., (2011) "Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Innovation Networks: An Initial Analysis of the Roles of Universities and other actors", International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances Vol. 2, Nos. 1/2, pp.113–134. Special Issue on Creating value through effective governance of knowledge sharing processes in inter-organizational partnerships.
Comunian, R., Chapain, C. and Clifton, N., (2010) 'Location, location, location: exploring the complex relationship between creative industries and place' (Editorial),Creative Industries Journal 3: 1+2, pp. 5–10.
Clifton, N., Pickernell, D., Keast, R. and Senior, M., (2010) "Network structure, knowledge governance and firm performance: Evidence from innovation networks and SMEs in the UK", Growth and Change, Vol. 41 No. 3 (2010), pp. 337–373.
Clifton, N. (2010) Review of Richard Florida's "Who's Your City?", Journal of Regional Science, vol. 50(2), 681-682.
Clifton, N., and Cooke, P. (2009) "Knowledge workers and creativity in Europe and North America: a comparative review", Creative Industries Journal, Vol. 2(1), 73-89. Special issue on The Drivers and Processes of Creative Industries in Regions and Cities.
Clifton, N., Pickernell, D., and Senyard, J. (2009) "Think Global, Act Local? Universities, SMEs, and Innovation Frameworks" Industry and Higher Education Vol. 23(2), 79-89.
Clifton, N. (2008) "The 'creative class' in the UK: an initial analysis". Geografiska AnnalerSeries B, vol. 90 (1): 63–82.
Clifton, N., Christie, M., Pickernell, D., and Senyard, J. (2007) "Grant Maintained or Grant Restrained? Rural Social Enterprise in Ceredigion, Wales" Journal of Rural Enterprise and Management, Vol. 3. no.1, pp 5-23.
Clifton, N., Kahn, Z., Peachey, P., and Pickernell, D. (2006) "Regional Policy, Competitiveness and Inward Investment: R & D in the Welsh Auto Components Industry", International Journal of Applied International Business Volume 1 (3).
Cooke, P., Clifton, N., and Oleaga, M. (2005) "Social Capital, Firm Embeddedness and Regional Development", Regional Studies, 39 (8), 1065–1077.
Cooke, P., and Clifton, N. (2005) "Visionary, precautionary and constrained 'varieties of devolution' in the economic governance of the devolved UK territories", Regional Studies, 39 (4), 437-451.
Sparkes, A., Thomas, B., Clifton, N.C., and Rosales, M. (2003) "The Internet as a Marketing Interface for Welsh Speciality Small and Medium-sized Agri-food Enterprises", Journal of Research in Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Volume 3, Issue 3, 144 – 161.
Clifton, N., and Pickernell, D. (2002) "The Automotive and Electronics Industries: Processes and Management of Change", International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Volume 3, No. 1, 35-51.
Clifton, N., (2001) "Systems Suppliers: Towards 'Best Practice'?", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 8 No. 3, 172-190.
Brooksbank, D., Morse, L. Thomas, B., and Clifton, N., (2001) "An Assessment of the Management and Practice of Training for Businesses in South East Wales",International Journal of Applied Management, Vol.2 No.3, 79–106.
Brooksbank, D., Clifton, N., Jones-Evans, D., and Pickernell, D. (2001) "The End of the Beginning?: Welsh Regional Policy and Objective One", European Planning Studies Vol. 9 No. 2, 255-274.
Clifton, N., Evans, R., and Pickernell, D. (2001) "Changing the Business or Changing the System?: A case study of implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning",International Journal of Applied Management, Vol.2 No. 2, 39-50.
Clifton, N., Jeanes, E., and Pickernell, D. (2001) "All Growth No Change?: A Case Study of Maintaining Organisational Behaviour And Managing Human Resources Through a Period of Growth", International Journal of Applied HRM, Vo.2 No. 1, 167-180.
Clifton, N., (2000) "Out-Sourcing in the Automotive Industry: A Case Study of Assembler-Supplier Collaboration", International Journal of Applied Management, Vol.1 No. 2, 37-52.
Edited Books
Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (eds.) (2014) Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Interactions and Outcomes, London, Routledge.
Benneworth, P., Clifton, N., Doucet, B,. Goebel, C., Hamm, R., and Schmitz, Y. (eds.) (2009) The Regeneration of Image in Old Industrial Regions: agents of change and changing agents, Gottingen, Cuvillier Verlag.
Book Chapters
Clifton, N. and Gartner, S. (forthcoming) "Corporate Identity", Wiley-AAG International Encyclopaedia of Geography, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (2014) "Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Introduction and Overview" in Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (eds.) (2014)Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Interactions and Outcomes, London, Routledge.
Clifton, N., "Regional culture in the market-place: place-branding and product branding as cultural exchange" in Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (eds.) (2014)Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Interactions and Outcomes, London, Routledge.
Clifton, N., David, A., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D "Epilogue; reflecting on regional culture, company culture, their interactions and the challenges emerging from the Crisis" in Clifton, N., Gartner, S. & Rehfeld, D. (eds.) (2014) Companies, Cultures, and the Region: Interactions and Outcomes, London, Routledge.
Clifton, N. (2013) "Location, quality of place, and outcomes; applying the '3Ts' model to the UK" in Richard Florida, Björn Asheim, Meric Gertler and Charlotta Mellander (eds.)The Creative Class Goes Global, London, Routledge.
Clifton. N. (2009) "Place-Branding and Product-Branding in a peripheral economy: the case of Wales", in Benneworth, P., Clifton, N., Doucet, B,. Goebel, C., Hamm, R., and Schmitz, Y. (eds) The Regeneration of Image in Old Industrial Regions: agents of change and changing agents. Gottingen: Cuvillier Verlag.
Cooke, P., and Clifton, N. (2006) "The Welsh Assembly & Economic Development", in M.Tewdwr Jones & P. Allmendinger (eds.) Territory, Identity & Spatial Planning: Spatial Governance in a Fragmented Nation, London, Routledge.
Cooke, P., and Clifton, N. (2004) "Spatial variation in social capital among UK small and medium-sized enterprises", in P. Nijkamp, R. Stough & H. de Groot (eds.)Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar.