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Purpose: This paper highlights how biological waste materials can be used for generating the much needed energy and obtaining nutrient-rich compost for agriculture through anaerobic digestion (AD). The paper further highlights the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in using AD for converting waste to energy (WTE), leading to many environmental benefits as well as clean energy generation. It would help to reduce pollution, water acidification and carbon emissions that eventually lead to climate change. Design/methodology/approach: The researchers undertook an in-depth study to highlight the role played by an SME in converting WTE and helping towards achieving circularity. An exploratory case-based approach was used to understand value leakage for an AD plant operating on WTE principles in the UK. The plant is still currently active, and it is located in the Midlands, England. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were undertaken with different stakeholders. Findings: This paper reveals the importance of WTE and the significant role played by AD in converting food waste into useful matter. It reports further into the value leakage issue faced in the AD plants. It demonstrates the importance of technological innovation in SME to capture value leakages in a circular model. Most importantly, it demonstrates how SMEs gain competitive advantage and generate value proposition, while they aim for zero waste to landfill objective. Research limitations/implications: The research involves a case study based on an SME, operating on a circular business model. It will be worth investigating how other businesses could gain competitive advantage. For SMEs interested in AD for WTE, this paper introduces further technological innovation to the AD process to leverage further potential for reuse of waste liquid. Any SMEs entering WTE market ought to take into consideration such design implications. Practical implications: The paper reveals how the use of waste by SMEs would lead to many environmental benefits as well as clean energy generation. It would help to reduce pollution, water acidification and carbon emissions that eventually lead to climate change. It is useful for addressing the needs of waste food producers and is a cheap raw material for generating energy. The benefits to the public are that it reduces the need for landfill and increases recycling. Social implications: The WTE is an effective way of making use of last-stage waste. Originality/value: Despite SMEs being the powerhouse of the European economies, there is limited research investigating how circular economy (CE) could unlock their potential. Moreover, development of AD in the UK has lagged behind other EU countries. We highlight value leakages and argue how technological innovation should be used to close the value chain loop in the WTE production process. This paper, therefore, demonstrates the important role of an AD process, which involves decomposition of biodegradable materials. It shows that AD is an economically viable and environmentally friendly process of obtaining clean energy at low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper alerts small business employers to new dictates of the Disability Discrimination Act (2005) as it applies to learning disabilities. Then the "Learning to Work" project featured in the paper offers small business employers a set of approaches and methods for the identification of a learning-disabled young adult candidate's training needs. Design/methodology/approach - Interviews were carried out with 12 of the 52 companies in which the Breakaway-supported employment service, operating from the Southdown Housing Association, has so far secured employment for people with learning disabilities. Findings - Comments from employers in the survey represented predominantly very favourable experiences with the learning-disabled individuals, mixed with some reservations about their need for additional training time, and their relative inflexibility in response to change of work routines. Research limitations/implications - The investigation was confined to SMEs in Sussex. As they stand, the methods could be used in different business sectors, but further research is planned on elicitation of candidates' personal constructs, resource modelling, and continuous training cycles. Originality/value - Recognised supported employment models were used but significantly adapted. Some methods used in the paper were new. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The implementation of e-learning can help SMEs to develop skills to cope with their operational environments, but current literature suggests they are not effectively engaged, partly due to a lack of understanding and mistrust of vendors. This paper considers the potential for a more effective transfer of marketing knowledge to firms through e-!earning and e-collaboration frameworks. Design/methodology/approach - This research identifies the perceptions of SMEs towards e-learning and the propensity of managers to embrace technology-based training. It investigates SMEs preference for training delivery and the potential for an e-centric collaborative learning environment to support effective knowledge transfer. Findings - Organisations must be capable of learning from experiences and of disseminating learning, to respond to emerging market conditions. The research endorses the need for a focused approach to e-learning that facilitates social interaction and learning in order to harness the value of shared tacit knowledge. Research limitations/implications - The research sample was limited to 24 respondents from the West Midlands region. Practical implications - Support providers need to maximise their research effort in order to fully understand the social and cultural implications of e-collaboration. and offer effective solutions that will allow SMEs to manage and develop their tacit knowledge resources effectively. Originality/value - This paper identifies the need for e-learning solutions to be constructed to add value to the learning experience and to harness the potential for exploiting tacit knowledge in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of size, strategic orientation and market orientation on innovation. Design/methodology/approach - A mail survey was conducted on a random sample of 60 South Yorkshire non-high-tech small, medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. A hypothesised model, stating company size, strategic and market orientation affect innovation was tested using multiple linear regression analysis. Findings - The results confirm customer orientation has a positive effect on innovation at product, process and organisational level. While it was found size and strategic orientation have an effect on process innovation. Size also has an impact on strategic orientation and strategic orientation on market orientation. Overall, medium-sized firms are prospectors and small firms, defenders. Prospectors are customer focused while defenders are competitors and environmental/technology-led. Process innovation is important to defenders. The findings reiterate that customers are the drivers for organisational innovation; while firms' strategic orientation determines their market orientation. Originality/value - This paper addresses a gap in the literature by that showing size, strategic orientation and market orientation are interrelated and, that customer orientation has a direct impact on innovation the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research paper, which focuses on issues in the adoption of new technology in small technology oriented firms, based on surveys of small information and communication technologies (ICT) oriented firms in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. It explores issues which smaller firms face with the adoption of new technologies. It reveals how pressure to adopt new technologies largely emanates from within the small firms and shows what can happen where an owner-manager is or is not willing to listen, learn and provide appropriate resources to ensure the smooth adoption and implementation of new technologies.

The article discusses a research paper which focuses on development of a collaborative learning environment through technology enhanced education (TE3) support. It reports on the development of a knowledge transfer project, part funded through TE3, designed to encourage innovation and improve the capability of SMEs in the West Midlands region of the UK. It outlines a proposal for a collaborative learning environment which will provide value to designers of virtual learning environments and funded support providers. Findings reveals that firms that efficiently tap into all relevant sources of knowledge are likely to thrive and those which cannot may struggle.

This paper explores the challenges involved in the development of coordinated management consulting services for small and medium-sized international companies in the East of England. This paper synthesises the findings of recently published quantitative and qualitative research to identify the characteristics of small to medium-sized enterprises seeking to trade internationally. The provision of coordinated and funded consulting services for these companies will require skills and marketing tools development for advisers and consultants. The region's success in achieving its economic targets will be assessed in terms of its inherent features and emerging strategies to move from service based on the information paradigm to those based on the consultancy paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research paper, which focuses on financial education in small ethnic minority businesses in Great Britain, based on portal survey of owner/managers in 64 ethnic minority small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and a control sample of 23 non-ethnic SMEs of United Kingdom. It evaluates the financial education needs of ethnic minority SMEs in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. It makes an empirically rigorous contribution to a relatively under researched aspect of SME research. Results of research are discussed which show that owner/managers of micro-businesses have lower educational achievements as well as higher financial education needs than their counterparts in small and medium-sized firms.

The article discusses a research paper, which focuses on training needs for women-owned SMEs in England, based on quantitative data collected through 108 on-line questionnaires. It investigates needs and preferences for training among growth-oriented women-owned SMEs in East of England. It offers original primary research into contributory growth factors for women-owned enterprises in a representative area of Britain, identifies key issues, maps survival and success factors, and assesses women entrepreneurs' training needs and preferences. Findings of research are discussed which reveal that one fourth of respondents received growth-oriented training in the previous two years, with an average duration of 3-5 days per year. The result is limited to service sectors and sole proprietorships.

Purpose - This paper aims to present the results of a study of supply chain management (SCM) practice in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Merseyside, UK. Design/methodology/approach - A questionnaire is used to identify the perceived benefits, barriers and attitudes towards SCM. The questionnaire was distributed to 250 SMEs in the Merseyside area. A total of 60 usable replies were received. Findings - The results reveal the perceived benefits of SCM to SMEs, which centre on SCM as a means to improve customer responsiveness. It also reveals concerns over SMEs' ability to adapt to these new working relationships and therefore gain the desired benefits. Analysis of these barriers highlights that they reside at the individual, relational and organisational level, thus increasing the complexity of adapting to SCM. Research limitations/implications - Given the focus of the paper, this only looked at SMEs in the Merseyside area. Practical implications - The paper provides thoughts on how SMEs can improve SCM within their own organisations and supply chains. This includes the adoption of a multi-faceted change management approach to facilitate the adoption of SCM. This needs to cover the individual, relational and organisational levels. Originality/value - Much of the SCM literature is dominated by case studies of large manufacturing organisations. The focus on the barriers and benefits to SMEs in a regional area is thus an identified gap in the extant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from recent research undertaken into the characteristics and support needs of ethnic minority owned businesses (EMBs) in Devon and Cornwall. The study was commissioned by PROSPER (formerly Devon and Cornwall TEC and Business Link), in collaboration with the Rural Race Equality Project in South West England. EMBs have been the subject of growing interest from a variety of sources in recent years, generating considerable debate about their distinctiveness in comparison with other small firms and their needs in terms of public policy. Not surprisingly, perhaps, a great deal of this research has focused on areas where EMBs are concentrated, such as London and Birmingham. In contrast, this research focuses on EMBs in an area which is some distance from the main centres of EMB concentration and where the ethnic minority population is more dispersed, many in a rural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in modern economies because of their flexibility and ability to innovate. In nearly every country, SMEs play a significant role in providing employment opportunities and supporting large scale manufacturing firms. However, there are not many studies reported in the literature that deal with productivity problems in SMEs. Considering the importance of SMEs, the experiences of a small company engaged in continuous improvement and a related conceptual model are discussed here to highlight how productivity can be improved with limited resources. The case study presented in this paper was conducted at Valeo; a French company located in England that produces wiper systems for the automotive industry in the UK The wiper systems include containers, pumps, jets and hoses. Valeo produces a wide variety of low volume parts for various customers in a job shop environment The objective of the project was to improve productivity in two cells of the company, namely the Honda/Rover cell and the head/amp cleaning cell. Next, the aim was to identify potential areas for cost savings resulting from productivity gains. Finally, implementation issues associated with productivity improvement strategies in a small company are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper draws on case-study research into human resource development (HRD) within three small organizations in the north-west of England. It positions the investigations within an overall framework of doctoral research, defines how the term small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) has been used, and summarizes the research design. The main content of the paper discusses the characteristics and values of SMEs in general and explores how these might influence the HRD policies and practices developed by them. A comparison of an HRD model typically found in small organizations with one typically engendered through the adoption of the Investors in People standard is presented. Findings and conclusions about HRD in the three case-study organizations are reported to include a description and comparison of the three cases' own HRD models. The paper concludes with some suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study addresses a gap in evidence on small employer experiences of managing mental health problems in the workplace. The authors gathered first-hand experiences of small business managers to empirically investigate how the small business context affects the management and support of mental health problems in the workplace, and the practice implications that arise. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative interviews, combining semi-structured and narrative approaches, with 21 small business managers with experience of managing employees with mental health difficulties. The 21 managers recounted a total of 45 employee cases, which were analysed thematically, using a case-based matrix. Study participants were drawn from small businesses within England and Scotland (UK). Interviews were conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. Findings: Support aligned with current understanding of effective practice, yet was often informal, instinctive and flexible. Accommodating employees with mental health problems impacted the workload of managers and co-workers, and business operation and growth. Challenges and tensions reflected the difficult balancing act faced by managers in organisations of all sizes. However, the intensity and immediacy of cross-pressures was enhanced for small businesses, due to their smaller workforce and lack of dedicated Human Resource Management and occupational health expertise. Practical implications: Guidance should address the navigation of day-to-day management and support for employees with mental health difficulties, including approaches to balancing the needs of the wider workforce and business operation. Access to HR and occupational health expertise is valuable. Financial subsidies may be of lesser concern to small businesses. Originality/value: This study offers originality in focusing exclusively on small business managers with first-hand experience of supporting employees with mental health problems. Findings challenge the perception that small firms have unique experiences, whilst highlighting contextual features that exacerbate intensity and immediacy of impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This regional survey involved 90 small manufacturing firms over the three-year period, 1997–2000. Ninety face-to-face interviews using a personal, open, unstructured approach were conducted in 90 duster-located small manufacturing (engineering) firms with up to 50 employees (but with 75 per cent below 20 staff) in the Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset and Wiltshire region. Selected follow-up discussions also occurred during the three-year period. The objectives of the undertaking were: to identify the key factors in the profiles of small firm owner-managers that influence business performance; and to contribute to the body of knowledge in this area. The full report comprised some 43,000 words and this paper can only be a mere summary of an investigation of immense scope and complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the use of new technologies by entrepreneurial businesses in London, England. It states that social networks play a key role in the future of marketing and can transform the traditional focus on control with an open and collaborative approach that is more conducive to business success. Moreover, business innovation is influenced by the use Internet through expanding reach and minimizing the time-lag to market. It emphasizes that focus on innovation and building of brand relationships are required in modern marketing.

Studies the role of advice and training support agencies in the development of small businesses in West Yorkshire, England. Magnitude of use of support services by small firms; Small business owners' perception and satisfaction with support services; Training requirements of small firms.