Environmental Improvements in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

The importance of encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their environmental performance is now well recognised. This paper evaluates the contribution of the business-support network to the delivery of a range of services designed to encourage SMEs to adopt more environmentally sound practices by examining the work of an environmental non-governmental organisation working in the North West of England: Sustainability Northwest (SNW). SNW has attempted to catalogue, promote and co-ordinate the services provided by the business-support network in its area. The focus of this development has been the establishment of the Environmental Initiatives Database (ENID). This has provided further evidence that the bespoke, solution-driven services required by SMEs are not readily available. Furthermore, the increase in mutual awareness among members of the business support network, facilitated by ENID, appears to have done little to foster an atmosphere of greater cooperation and integration of services. In conclusion, the paper discusses possible reasons for this apparent impasse by outlining the rationale for a new initiative to enhance co-ordination among members of the business-support network: the Green Competitive Edge for the North West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]