Diversity in content, approach and policy characterizes this collection of papers from the
19th ISBA National Small Firms Policy and Research Conference. The contributions reflect the variety and vibrancy of small firms research, and map out the centrality of the ′enterprise agenda′ to academics, policy-makers and the wider business community.
Amongst the issues covered in the thirteen chapters are the changing nature of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial identities, internationalization and SMEs, training in small firms, networking, Business Links, enterprise support for ethnic minority businesses, and the policy relevance of small firms research. Though eclectic in many ways, the volume provides a challenging set of questions to anyone interested in entrepreneurship and SME development.
The conference was organized on behalf of ISBA by the University of Central England Business School.
Published on behalf of the Institute for Small Business Affairs.
Professor David Deakins is an honorary researcher at the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University, and Adjunct Professor, School of Management, Massey University in New Zealand. He has over 30 years’ experience of research with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs. He returned to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2014 after retiring from Massey University. Whilst at Massey, he led various research projects undertaken for the New Zealand Government on SMEs, including regulation, internationalization and innovation. He also completed consultancy and research projects for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) body and for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).