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Read Small Business News Send us News 26th April 2002 This year's edition of Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands has just been published and is titled: Innovative Entrepreneurship: New Policy Challenges. "This is a joint publication by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and EIM Business&Policy Research. In this edition prof. Lois Stevenson and prof. David Storey present their insights into the importance of innovative entrepreneurship and give examples of international best practices in entrepreneurship policy. In addition Dr. Yvonne Prince of the EIM presents empirical evidence of the effects of innovative entrepreneurs. Pieter Waasdorp of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs discusses policy options for the future. The publication can be downloaded and ordered for free from the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs." (source email) 19th April 2002 Prof David Goss is awarded the Bill Richardson best paper prize at the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Conference. David's paper was entitled 'Goodbye to all that? An alternative to structure-agency in small business and entrepreneurship theory'. 9th April 2002 International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has two special editions in 2002. The February 2002 edition was guest-edited by Prof Jay Mitra and explored 'Entrepreneurship and Learning', comprising papers from the International Entrepreneurship Forum held in Naples in June 2001. In May 2002 an edition will be guest-edited by Prof Sara Carter and Julie Weeks and will look at 'Gender and Business Ownership'. Read More.(Source email) 26th March 2002 ISBA/Lloyds TSB Policy event summaries available. The topics covered by the Institute for Small Business Affairs/ Lloyds TSB Policy Event's were: The Music Business; The National Minimum Wage; and Incentivising Learning. Read More. (Source email) Call for papers, New England Journal of Entrepreneurship. Read Call. (source email) 17th March 2002 New style International Small Business Journal launched. The first edition to be published under the editorship of Prof Robert Blackburn is available online as a sample copy. Read Latest Volume 11th March 2002 Chancellor to act on Competition Commission's report on banking It has been widely reported that Gordon Brown will be acting to break-up the 'complex cartel' against small business that was reported by the Competition Commission. As far as we can tell from the media the exact nature of the interventions is yet to be announced. Read More.(source for example Sunday Times) 4th March 2002 Call extended for ISBA 2002 Conference Abstracts. The call for abstracts has been extended until 22nd April 2002. "The conference aims to expose competing perspectives on small firms and entrepreneurship. By revealing these apparent contradictions and tensions in our understanding, we hope to provide greater clarity, encourage innovative thinking and suggest positive agendas for the future." Read More. 21st February 2002 FSMED at Univesity of Durham wins Centre for Enterprise Award for Teaching. The press release states that "The Centre for Enterprise's first national Enterprise Teaching Award has been won by the Foundation for Small and Medium Enterprise Development at the University of Durham. With a value of £25,000, the overall purpose of the Enterprise Teaching Award is: "to widen and deepen the spirit of enterprise through encouraging radical innovation in the teaching of enterprise in higher education". (Source email) International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education to be launched in Spring. "The aim of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education (IJEE) is to enhance (business and economics) entrepreneurship education worldwide through the publication of high quality refereed articles, case studies, teaching strategies and lectures on entrepreneurship, as well as theoretical and applied research on entrepreneurship education." Read More.(Source email) Call for abstracts extended for Int Entrepreneurship Forum. Call for abstracts for 2nd Conference of the 'International Entrepreneurship Forum', Beijing, China September 5 to 7, 2002 . extended to 28th February, 2002, and submission of full paper versions, 30 May, 2002. Read More. (source email) Enterprise and Learning: Enterprise Education and Training and their impact on Competitiveness of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Workshop, Enterprise Research and Development Centre, Business School, University of Central England under the auspices of its International Entrepreneurship Forum 15 March, 2002, 10am - 4pm. Read More. 14th February 2002 European Commission and DTI make normal noises about how well the policy makers are following the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The DTI and EU press-releases make the normal noises about the importance of small businesses and the progress that is being made towards 'thinking small first'. The irony of the Government setting up a watch-dog to watch-over its own actions seems lost on the DTI. It is a sobering thought that the Bolton "Report on the Committee of Inquiry on Small Firms" in 1971 called for "effective equality of treatment [for SMEs] in every aspect of legislation and Government policy... [and that] small firms suffer unintended disadvantages", yet thirty years later this is still one of the main policy discussion issues. Read DTI press release. Read EU press release. Read European Charter for Small Enterprises. (sources press releases)
12th February 2002 Eighty one percent of SME manufacturers have less than three months guaranteed production on their books.This was one of the concerning findings of the CBI's latest survey of Quarterly Industrial Trends. Thirty-nine percent of respondents had less than one months guaranteed work which is the lowest figure since the survey started in 1988. Despite these concerning figures the CBI points to a reduction in the rate of decline in new orders to put a slightly positive spin on their press release. An interesting point for researchers to note is that the CBI defines small businesses as those with 0-199 employees and medium businesses as those with 200-499. This is contrary to the EU definition that has been adopted by the DTI where micro is under 10 employees, small 10-49 and medium 50-249 employees (see helpful discussion of defintions at the start of Curran and Blackburn, 2001, Researching the Small Enterprise, Sage). Read Press Release. (source CBI press release)
8th February 2002 All change (AGAIN) in UK small business support. Nothing new in Government tinkering with small business support, nevertheless the SBRP is duty bound to report that the Small Business Service has appointed William Sargent to take on the 'enhanced role as the independent voice for small firms'. William is already Head of the Small Business Council, but in addition it was stated that he will now attend the 'Ministerial Panel on regulatory accountability and will have access to the Prime Minister to discuss small firms matters'. It was also announced that Martin Wyn Griffith will become the new Chief Executive for the Small Business Service, he is currently Chief Executive of Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire. Apparently, these changes will 'boost services for small firms to ensure effective support for Britain's growing businesses' - hard to see why they will make that much difference to the current position. Read Press Release. (Source SBS)
5th February 2002 David Irwin, head of the Small Business Service, today welcomed the Government's plan to reduce red tape.The DTI press release stated that "Speaking from a seminar on how to implement the plan at No 10 Downing Street today, David Irwin said: "I welcome this Regulatory Action Plan - it is good news that the Government has identified 250 measures that will reduce or eliminate regulation for business. I would encourage Ministers to continue to look for ways to cut unnecessary red tape."Read More. (source dti) International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2002, 12-15 November 2002, Curtin University, Western Australia. Read More(source email)
3rd February 2002 Insolvencies increase in fourth quarter of 2001, The DTI press release stated that 'statistics showing insolvencies in the fourth quarter 2001 are published today (1 February) by the Department of Trade and Industry. There were 3,798 company insolvencies in England and Wales in the fourth quarter of 2001 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This was an increase of 1.8% on the previous quarter and an increase of 2.6% on the same period a year ago. Read More. (source email) Last call for abstracts for ISBA 2002. Abstracts need to be submitted by Friday 1st March for the 25th Institute of Small Business Affairs National Small Firms Policy and Research Conference. Read More. 28th January 2002 Skills Insight Conference, 6th March 2002 at Epsom Race Course, the theme for this year's conference is 'Skills, Productivity and Economic Growth'. Read More.(source email) 24th January 2002 Profs Becattini & Sabel receive prestigious award. "The Swedish Foundation for Small Business Research yesterday (22nd July) revealed this years recipient of the "International Award for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research". Professor Giacomo Becattini and Professor Charles Sabel will be sharing the prize sum of USD 50 000 for their contributions to research in the field of industrial districts." (source email) 23rd January 2002 Int Conference on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in a Global Economy: "Sustaining SME Innovation, Competitiveness and Development in the Global Economy", July 12-13, 2002, University of Wollongong NSW, Australia. Call for abstracts extended to 1st March 2002. Read More (source email) 22nd January 2002 SBS invite applications for an urgent research project. ("The Small Business Service along with Enterprise Insight wish to commission about 10 days work with the possibility that this will be extended depending on early findings etc. This work will need to be completed by 8 February. The consultancy is probably ideal work for a junior researcher/post graduate with some supervision. You are invited to apply by 5.00, Thursday 24th January. Read More (source email) 21st January 2002 2nd International Conference Management of Small and Medium Business: ProblemsTeaching, Future, (SBM2002), September 23th -27th 2002, SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE, Announcement and Call for papers Read More. (source email) 16th January 2002 Pilot business advice network for social entrepreneurs.The Department for Trade and Industry Press Release states "Douglas Alexander, Social Enterprise Minister, today announced a new £95,000 pilot scheme to boost the business skills of 40 social enterprises in the North East. The scheme is jointly funded by the DTI and OneNorthEast, the local Regional Development Agency. It will be run by the Barclays Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Durham Business School." Read More. (source DTI) 15th January 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards."According to DevelopingManagement.com "The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards programme is a regional, national and international annual award scheme which identifies and recognises the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs within successful growing dynamic businesses." Read More. (source email) FSB Annual Conference. FSB Annual Conference, Coylumbridge Hilton Hotel,Aviemore, Scotland, 22-24 March 2002."According to DevelopingManagement.com "The Read More. (source email) 10th January 2002 32nd Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Small Business Conference 2002, NEW DATES: 8th-10th September 2002 , Ceram Sophia Antipolis, France, theme: New Frontiers between Small and Large Firms (New interactions - New relationship). "Please take note of this important message about next year EISB conference (formerly called ESBS seminar) at CERAM Sophia Antipolis. A decision has been made to bring the conference forward to the 8th September 2002 to benefit from better services in the interest of delegates. If you are interested in contributing to the conference on the basis of recent experience or relevant research, please let us have your abstract before 1st March 2002. For more information, please consult the website: www.ceram.edu/eisb or contact Alice Guilhon directly, responsible for the scientific committee, at alice.guilhon@ceram.fr. Conference coordination 2002 at Ceram Sophia Antipolis: Isabelle Rivière Tel: ++33.4.93.95.45.14 Fax: ++33.4.93.95.44.29 E-mail: eisb.2002@ceram.fr" (Source email) 4th January 2002 RENT XVI Conference: Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Barcelona, Spain, November 21-22, 2002. Read More. (source website) 3rd January 2002 2nd Conference of the 'International Entrepreneurship Forum', Beijing, China September 5 to 7, 2002. Organised by the Enterprise Research and Development Centre, Business School, University of Central England, Birmingham, UK in conjunction with ANG Technology Foundation for International Entrepreneurship. Call for papers - submission of abstract, 31 January, 2002, and submission of full paper versions, 30 May, 2002. Read More. (source email) 31st December 2001 Latest issue of the International Journal of Innovation Management. This issue includes the following papers: "Classifying Design and Design Management in Seasonal Industries" by Claudia Eckert and Adrian Demaid; "Product Development in Japanese TV Game Software: The Case of an Innovative Game" by Yasunori Baba and F. Ted Tschang; and "Project-Level Influences on the Management and Organisation of Product Development in Engineering" by Neil Alderman, Alfred Thwaites and David Maffin. Read More. (source email) New Years Honours were made to the following people for their work in SME related areas (UK): Order
of the Bath Commander
(CVO) Member (MVO) (source The Independent) 21st December 2001 First
Call for Papers- Business Innovation in the Knowledge Economy,
12th June 2002, IBM, Warwick, UK. "This new event
sponsored by IBM UK, explores the relationship between business
and the Internet via key themes within the context of the
knowledge economy: - v financial services, v Customer Related
Marketing (CRM), v risk, v small firms experience and v public
sector involvement. Send abstracts by 21st February 2002 to
lynn.martin@uce.ac.uk
for review by the conference team, indicating which theme your
paper will fit into most appropriately Those invited to submit
papers should return these for review by 14th May 2002. 20th December 2001 Special session on the Demography of the Firm, organized within the 42nd European Congress of the Regional Science Association ERSA 2002, August 27-31 2002, Dortmund. "This session aims at bringing together research in the multidisciplinary field of industrial demography. Geographers, regional scientists, economists, but also sociologists and demographers are active in this field and are invited to present recent research. Special emphasis is put on geographical and spatial dimensions of firm demography. We aim to collect the most interesting papers into a special issue in one of the regional science journals. For more information contact Leo van Wissen at: l.j.g.van.wissen@frw.rug.nl . More information about the ERSA 2002 congress may be found on: http://www.ersa2002.org . Important dates: Abstracts: january 15th 2002, Papers: May 31, 2002" (Source Email) 18th December 2001 Disabled Entrepreneurs Network launched by the Association of Disabled Professionals. This projected is supported by a Phoenix Award and "aims to provide networking opportunities and information services for self-employed disabled people... The DEN will provide a variety of information for disabled entrepreneurs such as the provision of sign posting to other support, finance and training. We have identified a number of useful sites, but if you know of any others we would be grateful to hear about them." Read More. (source BAD) 17th December 2001 Latest edition of Technovation (Feb, 2002, Vol 22, No 3). The following small business related article is included: "How effective is innovation support for SMEs? An analysis of the region of Upper Austria" by A. Kaufmann and F. Todtling. Read More. (source email) Research Assessment Exercise Results published. The RAE results were published on Friday. Read More. 13th December 2001 Small firms in the tourism and hospitality sectors: an international conference, 12th-13th September 2002, Centre for the Study of Small Tourism and Hospitality Firms, Leeds Metropolitan University. Read More. (source email) 12th December 2001 International Conference on Medium Enterprise Development, 14th-16th July 2002, Collingwood College, University of Durham, focusing on: 'The missing Middle'. Read More. (source email) Activating Goodwill: Building Goodwill Through Ethical Performance, Interactive Workshop, 28th February 2002, Brunel University, Uxbridge, West London. "Brunel Research in Enterprise, Sustainability and Ethics (BRESE), and Brunel Enterprise Centre (BEC) are offering an innovative workshop focusing on activating goodwill through ethical performance. The objectives of this highly interactive session are to provide SMEs with a deeper understanding of the financial and non-financial value of goodwill in their companies, to identify the ethical components of goodwill and to build goodwill through ethical performance." Read More. (source email) 11th December 2001 10th High Technology Small Firms Conference 2002 , 10th-11th June 2002, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands. Further details by email from Dr Aard J. Groen at HTSF@sms.utwente.nl (source mailshot) 7th December 2001 SBS-Kingston University Seminar on Female Business Ownership. The Small Business - Kingston University SME Seminar on Female Business Ownership was held yesterday (6th December) at the DTI in London. The following papers were presented: Professor Sara Carter "Women's Business Ownership: A review of academic, popular and internet literature"; Professor Vani Borooah "Factors Affecting the Self-employment of Men and Women in Britain" and Dr Fiona Wilson "Banks' View of Women Business Owners and Men and Women Business Owners' Views of Banks: a research proposal". Read the papers and further details on the seminar series. 5th December 2001 Pre-budget report offers a package of help for SMEs. The pre-budget report included the following areas: Reducing administrative burdens; reviewing payroll administration; Optional flat rate VAT scheme for some SMEs to reduce compliance costs; Encouraging business start-ups through £75 million business incubation fund; Improving access to finance through early growth funding up to £50 million over the next three years and supporting Regional Venture Capital Funds. Read More. (Source Treasury website) 2nd December 2001 Department for Trade and Industry consultation on "Company Investigations: Powers for the 21st Century", closing date 30th January 2002. Read More. (source website) 30th November 2001 Latest edition of the Journal of Business Venturing 17(4) July 2002. This edition includes the following articles: "Determinants of required return in venture capital investments: a five-country study" by S. Manigart, K. De Waele, M. Wright, K. Robbie, P. Desbrieres, H.J. Sapienza, A. Beekman; "Restricted access to markets characterizes women-owned businesses" by T. Bates; "Can a franchise chain coordinate?" by S.C. Michael; "Performance effects of alternative joint venture resource responsibility structures" by J.A. Pearce, L. Hatfield; "Understanding the dynamics of new venture top management teams: cohesion, conflict, and new venture performance" by M.D. Ensley, A.W. Pearson, A.C. Amason. Read More. (source email) Startup2002 are providing a "series of exhibitions for new businesses and people thinking of starting their own companies. The first event at Brighton Racecourse on 11th and 12th May 2002. Free information and advice from support agencies, companies, business associations and suppliers." Read More. 27th November 2001 Globalising European SMEs in the World Trade System: a System Dynamics approach, 14th-15th December 2001, University of Palermo, System Dynamics Group. Read More. (Source email) Business Support Workshop: Current systems, future options, Monday 21st January 2002, presented by the Centre for Enterprise at the Engineering Employers' Federation, London. Supported by SFEDI and SBS. For further details or to book email amanda@centreforenterprise.co.uk. (Source snailmail) 23rd November 2001 Changes at Small Business Service due to DTI reorganisation. The Financial Times reports today that the SBS will continue to deliver its core services, but the role of advising on the impact of new regulations is to be separated. David Irwin is to stand down as the Chief Executive when his contract expires in March. The FT suggests that "he is understood to be unhappy that the review of the department's work has changed the role of the service and will strip out some of his more important roles." (source FT and email) 5th Cambridge Enterprise Conference, 10th to 12th September 2002 , Churchill College, Cambridge, U.K. The event was outlined as "the first two days will be similar to CEC4, with presentations by leading business and academic figures within interactive sessions. On September 12th the emphasis will be on networking and deal making, with facilities for new and growing businesses to bring their technologies, ambitions and opportunities to the attention of delegates". The website will be launched shortly in the meantime further details can be obtained by emailing enquiries@cambridgeenterprise.co.uk. (source email) 20th November 2001 British Chambers of Commerce urge support for SMEs meeting flexible hours duties. The press release from the BCC reacts to ‘The Work and Parents Task Force Report’ published today (Tuesday) by welcoming "the decision to rule out an automatic right for parents to work flexible hours but are urging Government to invest in a targeted support package to help small firms implement the new imposed duty to consider requests to work flexible hours." Read More. (source press release) 19th November 2001 25th ISBA National Small Firms Policy and Research Conference "Competing Perspectives of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Brighton Business School, University of Brighton, 13th to 15th November 2002, Doctoral Day 12th November 2002. Read More. Awards at 24th ISBA National Small Firms Policy and Research Conference. The following awards were made: Best Overall Paper (ISBA), Robert Bennett and Colin Smith "The influence of location and distance on the supply of Business Advice"; Most Policy Relevant Paper (SBS), Paul Chaplin and Paul Hannon "Are incubators good for business? Understanding incubation practice- the challenges for policy"; Best Methodology Paper (SBS) "Access to finance by ethnic minority businesses- some results from a national study"; Best Paper with clear implications (FPB) Robert Bennett and Colin Smith "The influence of location and distance on the supply of Business Advice"; Best paper for Regional Policy (E. Midlands Development Agency) Smallbone, D., North, D., Vickers, I. and Roper, S. "Innovation and the use of technology in small and medium sized manufacturing plants: an inter-regional study"; Best Paper for Developing Business (E. Midlands Development Agency) Paul Chaplin and Paul Hannon "Are incubators good for business? Understanding incubation practice- the challenges for policy". Latest Edition of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development (13, 4, October 2001) is avaialble. This includes the following articles: "Regional competence and economic recovery: divergent growth paths in Boston's high technology economy" by Harald Bathelt; "Incubator, technology, and innovation centres in Switzerland: features and policy implications" by Alain Thierstein; Beate Willhelm; "Online business development services for entrepreneurs: an exploratory study" by Daniel Evans; Thierry Volery; "Informal investors - A categorization, with policy implications" by Roger Sørheim; Hans Landström. Read More. (source email) Latest edition of the Journal of Business Venturing (17, 3, May 2002) just published. This includes the following articles: "Employment or self-employment - A dynamic utility-maximizing model" by M. Levesque, D.A. Shepherd, E.J. Douglas; "Is it worth it? The rates of return from informal venture capital investments" by C.M. Mason, R.T. Harrison; "The effects of organizational sampling frame selection" by G.B. Murphy; "Middle managers' perception of the internal environment for corporate entrepreneurship: assessing a measurement scale" by J.S. Hornsby, D.F. Kuratko, S.A. Zahra; "Entrepreneurial capital: the emerging venture's most important asset and competitive advantage" by T. Erikson. Read More. (source email) 13th November 2001 Developing Small Business E-Learning Networks Seminar, Tuesday 27th November 2001. This seminar is being jointly to CEOs or their nominees by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative and the Centre for Enterprise. Read more. (Source email) 9th November 2001 New Economics Papers: Entrepreneurship (NEP-ENT) has just been launched. Marcus Dejardin from the University of Namur explained that "NEP-ENT is part of the NEP Project. NEP is an announcement service which filters information on new additions to RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) into edited reports... Reports include new working papers and journal articles. Keywords that will be used as filters for NEP-ENT[include]: Entrepreneurship; Self-employment; Small Business; SMEs; Spin-off; Start-up; Gazelle... How to Join (or leave) the new Entrepreneurship (NEP-ENT) mailing list ? Please, have a look at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/NEP-ENT.html" (Source email) 8th November 2001 Clive Woodcock, Founding Editor of ISBJ, died on November 1st . Prof. Robert Blackburn, Editor of the International Small Business Journal (ISBJ), was saddened to report the death of his friend and colleague Clive Woodcock the Founding Editor of the ISBJ. (source phone) 7th November 2001 Latest edition of Technovation has just been published (Vol. 22, No 1, Jan-2002). This includes the following articles: "Explaining innovative efforts of SMEs. - An exploratory survey among SMEs in the mechanical and electrical engineering sector in The Netherlands" by J.A. Keizer, L. Dijkstra, J.I.M. Halman; "A generic model and design representation technique of service products" by Q. Ma, M.M. Tseng, B. Yen; "Information technology and personal computers: the relational life cycle" by E. Esposito, M. Mastroianni; "Developing a manufacturing-based economy in Nigeria through science and technology" by M.O. Ilori, A.A. Adeniyi, A.A. Oyewale, S.A. Sanni, I.A. Irefin. Read More. (Source email) 2nd November 2001 Latest edition of Small Business Economics has just been published (Vol. 17, Issue 4, December 2001). This edition includes the following papers: "A Note on the Firm Size - Export Relationship" by Joachim Wagner; "Duration of Self-employment in Developing Countries: Evidence from Small Enterprises in Zimbabwe" by Mudziviri Nziramasanga, Minsoo Lee; "Formal Rehabilitation Procedures and Insolvent Firms: Empirical Evidence on the British Company Voluntary Arrangement Procedure" by Gary A. S. Cook, Naresh R. Pandit, David Milman; " Organization Context and Human Resource Management in the Small Firm by Jan de Kok, Lorraine M. Uhlaner; "Tunisia`s Lending Program to SMEs: Anatomy of an Institutional Failure? by Mohamed Bechri, Tijani Najah, Jeffrey B. Nugent. Read More. (source email) 31st October 2001 5th International Business and Economics Conference, Oct 11-12, 2002 Call for papers:submission deadline March 17, 2002. "We welcome submissions from all related disciplines. Publication opportunities include (optional) proceedings, and a customized journal publication route with MCB University Press (Emerald Insight)". Read More. (Source email) 29th October 2001 Dr Harry Matlay has been appointed the new Editor of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. Dr Matlay is Reader in SME Development at the University of Central England. (source email) Proposals invited for new Editor of the Journal of Small Business Management. The invitation reads "the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and West Virginia University, are seeking proposals from qualified educational institutions to provide the editorial offices and editor for the JSBM." Read More. (source ICSB) Latest
edition of International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour
& 25th October 2001 BusinessEurope.com partnership with and new portal for British Chambers of Commerce. A press release from BusinessEurope.com states that the "British Chambers of Commerce has chosen Business Europe, the managed online services provider, to build and run its new business support portal 'Chamber Online'. In addition, Business Europe and British Chambers have formed a partnership to offer all UK Chambers of Commerce packages of content and tools to enhance their existing websites... The initiative is in phase one of development with daily business news and features available via www.britishchambers.org.uk under the Business News section and expert advice guides available in the Business Centre. A steady stream of content, community and commercial tools will be added over the coming months." (source email) 24th October 2001 Russian SMEs employ 1 in 10 but only account for 4% of GDP. The Moscow Times reporting on a recent survey by the State Statistics Committee that "small businesses in Russia employ one in 10 people, but only account for 4 percent of production... Twenty-six percent of those workers are in retail, while 51 percent are in wholesale, the committee said Monday." Read More. (source Moscow Times via Moreover.com) Last call to register for Conference on "Regeneration and Sustainability Development in London: Governance, Community and Enterprise Perspectives , 7th November 2001, Middlesex University. For further details contact Sue Engelbert or Ian Vickers CEEDR, Middlesex University Business School, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT. Tel: 020 8411 5514/6604 Fax: 020 8411 6607 Email: i.vickers@mdx.ac.uk ; s.engelbert@mdx.ac.uk (source email) 18th October 2001 Postponement- the Institute of Small Business Affairs Doctoral Workshop on the 13 December 2001 has been postponed. Further information on the rearranged workshop will be published in due course. (source email) 17th October 2001 Registrations still being taken for RENT Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Conference to be held in Turku, Finland on November 22-23, 2001. The organisers "would like to take this opportunity of informing you of the distinguished key note speakers at the conference. Prof. Robert Blackburn, Director of Research, Kingston Business School, England, TOPIC: Researching Entrepreneurship and Small Firms: Towards A New Agenda? Professor Anne Kovalainen, Professor, Department of Management, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland. TOPIC: Research in Entrepreneurship and SMEs: Visions and Divisions". Read More. (source email) VentureQuest has published a report entitled "Private investment in the early stage venture capital market: Investment strategies and company directory". This industry report profiles 127 incubators operating in the UK and lists over 400 of their portfolio companies. The 272-page strategy report is available for £495 and can be obtained by contacting Andrew Rogerson [Head of Sales] on 020 7434 1445. (source email) 15th October 2001 Latest edition of the Int Journal of Innovation Management. Papers in this edition include: "What's this "Tosh"?: Innovation Networks and New Product Development as a Political Process" by Ian McLoughlin, Christian Koch and Keith Dickson; "Exploiting and Nurturing In-House Technological Capabilities: Lessons from the Aerospace Industry" by Andrea Prencipe; "Delivering Business Critical Information Systems Though Application Service Providers: The Need for a Market Segmentation Strategy" by Wendy L. Currie and Philip Seltsikas; "Technology, Innovation and Competitive Advantage: Making a Business Process Perspective Part of Investment Appraisal" by Ashley D. Lloyd; "Developing Innovation Capability in Organisations: A Dynamic Capabilities Approach" by Benn Lawson and Danny Samson. Read More. (source email) 12th October 2001 USPS survey suggests that attracting new customers is major concern. According to DMNews "the study, which was conducted for the USPS [U.S. Postal Service] by the Millward Brown Group, an international market research firm, found that 52 percent of small-business owners said they spend the bulk of their time trying to attract customers. For the study, 511 small-business owners were surveyed to gather information on their efforts to acquire and retain customers and the efforts to fulfill customer orders. Survey participants were owners of small businesses with less than 20 employees. The survey also found that 41 percent of small-business owners spend 10 to 20 hours a week trying to attract new customers to their business..." Read More. (Source DMNews via Moreover.com) 10th October 2001 British Chambers of Commerce launch taskforce on SME e-business. The press release states that "the British Chambers of Commerce today (Thursday 4 October) launch a new specialist task force of business leaders to address growing concerns that the UK’s small firms are failing to meet the competitive challenge of e-business. The task force, set up to advise Ministers, and launched ahead of the government's 'e-business week' running from 8-12 October, will examine the nature and scale of e-business in the UK, and identify the key barriers holding back the UK’s small firms." Read More. (source website) 9th October 2001 FPB survey suggests that SME growth has fallen. The Forum of Private Business's press release suggests, "even before the USA atrocities a third of UK small firms had reported growth at the lowest point since 1998, according to the latest research issued by the Forum of Private Business (FPB). Continued concerns over business rates, employment regulations, red tape and tax administration are not helping confidence as they are still the most frequently reported small business issues. The FPB’s 62nd Quarterly Survey, shows ‘actual growth’ fell from 42.5% to 36.6% in small and medium businesses. This 6% drop in one quarter takes growth to its lowest level since 1998. The ‘projected growth’ level of small firms has also fallen, even before taking the recent traumatic world events into account." Read More. (Source BAD) 5th October 2001 Top team changes at Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative. Christine Tolson succeeds Tony Robinson as the Chief Executive of SFEDI. Tony Robinson succeeds Stuart White as Chairman and Stuart White becomes the President. (source letter) 3rd October 2001 Latest
edition of International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour
& 1st October 2001 ET&P special edition on Alternative Perspectives of Entrepreneurship. Call for papers for a special edition of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice on "Alternative Perspectives of Entrepreneurship" guest edited by Peter Jennings, Lew Perren and Sara Carter. Read More. (source email) 28th September 2001 Last call for SBED 2002 Conference Abstracts. Abstracts are needed by 5th October 2001 for the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Conference - Theoretical and Empirical Advances in International Entrepreneurship. Read More. (source email) 26th September 2001 SBS launches new scheme to help troubled small businesses. The Press Release reads "Head of the Small Business Service David Irwin today unveiled a pioneering scheme aimed at giving small businesses suffering from short-term financialdifficulties a second chance. Under the plan advisers will work as company 'doctors' and put together rescue packages that concentrate on long-term debt management through realistic assessments of businesses for creditors. The credibility of that assessment will be crucial as it will provide the basis for negotiation on payment arrangements with creditors...The groundbreaking initiative will run in Manchester, Newcastle, North Yorkshire, Wessex (Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of White), Leicestershire, Nottingham, West Midlands and the East of England." (source email) Latest edition of Enterprise and Society.The September 2001 edition of Enterprise and Society is now available. Read More. (source email) 25th September 2001 Web event on Employment Law and Red tape. BusinessEurope.com will be hosting a live talk session with Peter Done (MD of Peninsula) at 15:00 to 16:00 hours, 27th September at its website www.BusinessEurope.com. Email your questions to community@businesseurope.com. (Source email) 24th September 2001 New SBS-UKBI directory of business incubators. The press release announces today (20th September 2001) that "new businesses looking for a space in a suitable business incubator will from today have access to the first UK Business Incubation Directory published jointly by the Small Business Service and UK Business Incubation." Read Press Release. Obtain Directory. (Source DTI Press release) 20th September 2001 Latest edition of Small Business Economics. The November edition of SBE is now available, read the abstracts. (Source email) 18th September 2001 Call for proposals under Small Business Research Initiative. The "NERC has just made a call for proposals under the Small Business Research Initiative. The aim if to procure research and development from small companies likely to lead to new products and services stemming from NERC funded science." Read More. (Source email). 17th September 2001 BBC plans series on new entrepreneurs. The BBC's Business Unit is planning a BBC2 documentary series provisionally entitled 'The Business of Dreams'. They intend to follow new entrepreneurs as they embark on unusual and exciting business ventures at home or abroad. Please contact Rebecca Allen (Tel: + 44 (0) 208 752 5394 or + 44 (0) 208 752 4439, email: rebecca.allen@bbc.co.uk) if you know of suitable people who may be interested in appearing in the series. They have assured the SBRP that any conversations at this stage are in complete confidence with no obligation to take part. (Source telephone conversation). E-commerce Workshop: Themes and issues in theory and practice, Tuesday 30 October 2001 at the Open University, Milton Keynes. The seminar is free to attend, but early registration is required, and recommended. To register email: OUBS-PMRU-Event@open.ac.uk. For further information: Suzanne Mieczkowska, 01908 654718. (source email) 13th September 2001 USA Today explores how the attack will affect SMEs. Jim Hopkins at USA Today suggests that SMEs are already coping with a faltering economy and now they "are bracing for financial fallout from Tuesday's apparent terrorist attacks". Read More (Source USAToday via moreover) 12th September 2001 The UK's North-South Enterprise Gap. According to an article by John O'Donnell in the Sunday Times there is a 'north-south enterprise' gulf. The article draws upon Prof. David Storey's research to explore possible reasons for the divide and David Irwin (Head of SBS) comments on support for Northern SMEs. Read More. (Source Sunday Times from Moreover.com) 11th September 2001 ICAEW publish report on "Developing the Enterprise Economy". The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has published a survey of its members' opinions on "Developing the Enterprise Economy". The report suggests that "Chartered Accountants have mixed views on the UK as a place for starting a business. Whilst they were generally positive about the current macro economic stability and current fiscal policy they were critical of the current regulatory environment and support from Government. In total, 75% of respondents agreed strongly or agreed with the statement that 'The Government is not doing enough to encourage an enterprise culture', with 6% disagreeing or disagreeing strongly. Government could be of most help in encouraging greater entrepreneurship if it took steps to reduce red tape, regulation and bureaucracy. " Read More. (Source BAD) 6th September 2001 Survey suggests 35 percent of UK SMEs hope to expand. According to the Electronic Telegraph the Alliance & Leicester Business Barometer survey of 500 small businesses shows that "three out of five predicted no change to their businesses over coming months, while 35pc said they intended to expand." Read More. (source Electronic Telegraph) 3rd September 2001 National Franchise Week (UK), 1st to 7th October 2001. Read More. (source mailshot) Major review of business support in Wales. According to the Business Advisers Digest "the business support structure in Wales is to be shaken up after being criticised in a recent review commissioned by the National Assembly's Economic Development Committee. The current structure was criticised for duplicating services, having unhelpful competition and creating confusion among Welsh businesses. In response to the review, from April 1st 2002, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) will be responsible for the management of all public sector business support services. The WDA now has until mid-October to submit proposals on how it intends to manage the business support services." (source Bad) |
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Copyright © 1999-2002 Dr. Lew Perren. All Rights Reserved. |
