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The antecedents of training activity in British small and medium-sized enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Kim Hoque

    (Nottingham University Business School, kim.hoque@nottingham.ac.uk)

  • Nicolas Bacon

    (Nottingham University Business School, nicholas.bacon@nottingham.ac.uk)

Abstract

Analysing data from the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey we establish the extent to which levels of training activity in Britain are lower in SMEs than in larger firms.The antecedents of training activity within the SME sector are examined in terms of the workplace characteristics that are associated with high or low levels of training. Both managers and non-managers receive less training in SMEs compared with larger organizations.Training in the SME sector is associated with larger SMEs, multi-site SMEs, franchises, the presence of a personnel/HR specialist and multiple memberships of business advisory networks. Neither Investors in People nor trade union recognition are associated with greater training activity.The implications of the findings for government policy regarding training in SMEs are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim Hoque & Nicolas Bacon, 2006. "The antecedents of training activity in British small and medium-sized enterprises," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 20(3), pages 531-552, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:20:y:2006:i:3:p:531-552
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017006067000
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kim Hoque, 2003. "All in All, it’s Just Another Plaque on the Wall: The Incidence and Impact of the Investors in People Standard," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(2), pages 543-571, March.
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    5. Kim Hoque & Scott Taylor & Emma Bell, 2005. "Investors in People: Market‐led Voluntarism in Vocational Education and Training," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 43(1), pages 135-153, March.
    6. Laurie Hunter & Phil Beaumont & Diane Sinclair, 1996. "A ‘Partnership’ Route To Human Resource Management?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 235-257, March.
    7. Lisa M. Lynch & Sandra E. Black, 1998. "Beyond the Incidence of Employer-Provided Training," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 52(1), pages 64-81, October.
    8. Reginald A. Litz & Alice C. Stewart, 2000. "Research Note: Trade Name Franchise Membership as a Human Resource Management Strategy: Does Buying Group Training Deliver ‘True Value’ for Small Retailers?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(1), pages 125-135, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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