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Supporting sustained growth among SMEs – policy models and guidelines

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Roper

    (Warwick University Business School)

  • Mark Hart

    (Aston University Business School)

Abstract

Among SMEs high growth is often episodic and not sustained. How can we best support SMEs to achieve sustained growth? In this paper we review a number of international support measures designed to give SMEs the capabilities and resources to sustain fast growth. Policy guidelines emerge suggesting the need for partnership, for regionalised delivery and the potential value of holistic supports for sustained growth. Support measures are of three main types: Systemic measures which focus on informational or strategic market failures; Holistic approaches – which combine business development and leadership development; Functional or thematic approaches – which focus more narrowly on financial support, on management and leadership development or technology adoption or use. Reviewing these schemes suggests seven design or implementation guidelines for measures aiming to support sustained growth. These relate both to the effective targeting of growth support measures as well as ensuring that schemes are both effective and efficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Roper & Mark Hart, 2013. "Supporting sustained growth among SMEs – policy models and guidelines," White Papers 0007, Enterprise Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:enr:wpaper:0007
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    File URL: http://enterpriseresearch.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ERC-White-Paper-No-7-Roper-Hart-Supporting-sustained-growth-2.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2013
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Norin Arshed & Colin Mason & Sara Carter, 2016. "Exploring the disconnect in policy implementation: A case of enterprise policy in England," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(8), pages 1582-1611, December.
    2. John Forth & Alex Bryson, 2019. "Management practices and SME performance," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 66(4), pages 527-558, September.
    3. Ross Brown & Suzanne Mawson, 2016. "Targeted support for high growth firms: Theoretical constraints, unintended consequences and future policy challenges," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(5), pages 816-836, August.
    4. Becker, Bettina & Roper, Stephen & Vanino, Enrico, 2023. "Assessing innovation spillovers from publicly funded R&D and innovation support: Evidence from the UK," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    5. Alex Bryson & John Forth, 2016. "What Role Did Management Practices Play in SME Growth Post-recession?," DoQSS Working Papers 16-11, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    6. Isabelle Roland, 2018. "Unlocking SME productivity: review of recent evidence and implications for the UK’s industrial strategy," CEP Industrial Strategy 05, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    7. José Andrade & Mário Franco & Luis Mendes, 2023. "Facilitating and Inhibiting Effects of Organisational Ambidexterity in SME: an Analysis Centred on SME Characteristics," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(1), pages 35-64, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    SME; small business; sustained growth; policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy
    • L78 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction - - - Government Policy

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