Suchergebnisse

The complex integration and disintegration processes identified in the literature, and the deepening relationship between economic activities suggests that it will be necessary for local economic initiatives to be well integrated with other national and local policies if they are to be successful. (JLN)

Small and medium-sized firms in Britain have been encouraged by a range of government policies. In this paper, the impact of Business Growth Training Option 3 is examined, which between 1989 and 1991 provided financial assistance to small and medium-sized firms to employ consultants to help them train and develop their management staff. A novel methodology is employed; it follows a cohort of firms through their Option 3 project, and compares them with a matched sample of firms not in receipt of assistance. The evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of support for management training in small and medium-sized enterprises. It shows that Option 3 produced a substantial increase in the scale and range of management training. It also shows that Option 3 assistance led to improvements in management, organisation, and business performance in participant firms. Based on this evidence, a series of recommendations are made for both government policy and further academic research.