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[...]this has given rise to an emerging consideration of how practice-based theories can further inform and explain our understanding. [...]taking this practice-based view also brings into the spotlight the specific social networks and social capital that are involved and embedded in these day-to-day interactions. Learning in this context is conceptualised as occurring in the entrepreneur's natural setting (their business) using knowledge gained through participation and reflection in the programme and in the company of others (Barnes et al., 2015). [...]this shift to practice-orientated studies means the mundane day-to-day processes and relationships from which entrepreneurs draw their experiences are amongst the most important influences on their growth trajectory and a fundamental influence on the opportunity for individual, collective and policy learning (Ram and Trehan, 2010; Anderson and Thorpe, 2004). (2015) demonstrate in their study of learning for continuity in family firms, it is relationships, and particularly the depth of meaningful participation with others, that are important. [...]whilst there have been several theoretical advances (Politis, 2005; Kempster and Cope, 2010), there still is a lack of solid empirical studies about the types of practices and contexts that support this learning (Wang and Chugh, 2014).

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the influence of a range of contingent factors that moderate the approaches to training in manufacturing SMEs. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on a regression analysis of data from a survey of 198 manufacturing SMEs. Findings: The findings suggest that there will be times when formal training is appropriate for SMEs. Dependent on size, product, market and organizational structures, formal training will be both required and/or encouraged by SME management. The challenge will be to understand specific organizational conditions, and to target the right type of intervention at a particular small firm based on its specific characteristics and needs. This will require a deeper understanding of the context and issues facing a specific firm. Practical implications: Because of the diversity of small firms' structures, product and market conditions and leadership and management approaches, generic support policies are unlikely to be effective. Research, management and policy instruments of training support will need to interact with, and be responsive to, the subtle distinctions of context that will moderate what is more appropriate, and more likely to be welcomed, in the small business sector. There does appear to be a demand for formal training in certain types of firms, but other learning initiatives will have to be supported where formal training is not appropriate or not welcome. Originality/value: The empirical analysis and the tentative conceptual framework make an important contribution towards a demand-led policy framework in the area of development and training support for SMEs. (Contains 2 figures, 6 tables and 3 notes.)

Purpose - This paper asks whether enterprise programmes are overcoming the finance gap faced by their disadvantaged participants. Specifically, the paper seeks to assessthe level of finance invested by participants on a leading UK enterprise programme, the New Entrepreneur Scholarships (NES). Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws on a postal and e-survey of participants on a leading UK enterprise programme, reporting on 472 respondents. Three capital structure variables (personal investment, external private investment and grants) are employed to analyse the importance of various types of funding in NES businesses. These figures are compared with published data about use of different types of finance, including principal sources of funding, in UK start-ups. Descriptive statistics of perceptions of under-capitalisation, and needs for additional funding, are also reported. Findings - NES Scholars make significantly lower start-up investment than is typical in UK small businesses, particularly in terms of personal finance. Finance provided by the programme is important but does not compensate for poor access to personal and loan investment. Perhaps as a consequence, almost half of the Scholars were under-capitalised. Practical implications - Implications for policy are discussed at length. In particular, practical options for addressing the under-capitalisation of businesses started under enterprise programmes are analysed, including increasing and targeting grant finance, providing soft-loans, improving access to existing sources of public funding for small businesses, easing access to private finance, providing more support for the self-employed through the welfare and tax credit systems and paying childcare subsidies. Originality/value - The paper presents novel analysis of the capital structure of businesses started under an enterprise programme and employs this to explore the critical question of whether - and in what ways - these firms are under-capitalised. It also presents new analysis of the policy options available for improving finance to disadvantaged groups. It fills gaps in the literatures relating to small business finance and small business and social inclusion.

Purpose - This study seeks to draw on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explore the effects of a creativity-enhancing training programme on the learning intentions of nascent entrepreneurs. The key focus is to evaluate the impact of the nascent entrepreneurs' perceived level of creativity on training outcomes, measured in terms of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and intention to exploit learning. Implications for theory and enterprise education policy are discussed.Design methodology approach - The paper draws on data from a cross sectional survey of two groups of trainees: final-year business-enterprise degree-students, and participants from a leading UK enterprise programme, New Entrepreneur Scholarship (NES). The data from a total sample of 384 were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Data were subjected to essential validity and reliability tests prior to using in the SEM analysis.Findings - The results supported the hypothesis that participants who perceive themselves as having higher perceptions of creativity will have higher tendencies to learn. There is also support for a full mediation role of new learning in explaining the relationship between creativity and intention to exploit learning. Creative individuals also rate other training outcomes as positive; both perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use received statistical support. Perceived usefulness acts as a strong mediator to the relationship between learning from creativity training and nascent entrepreneurs' intention to exploit their learning. On the whole, results largely agree with the TPB as applied to entrepreneurship and suggest trainees' perception of creativity as a driver for enhancing learning habits among nascent entrepreneurs.Practical implications - The research has highlighted several issues that influence the learning behaviour of nascent entrepreneurs and so helps to inform entrepreneurship theory and enterprise policy related to enterprise and entrepreneurship education. As this is one of the first attempts to situate enterprise education within the theory of planned behaviour, this study will particularly be useful to frame questions for future research.Originality value - The study is useful as it proposes a new dimension to an already popular debate around learning and entrepreneurial potential. This paper emphasises that the development of enterprising skills should be spread and integrated into different aspects within an entrepreneurship programme, as opposed to small-blocks of consecutive sessions, to avoid negative effects caused by the perception of creativity.

This study sets out to examine management development activities within manufacturing SMEs, and their impact on performance. Unlike previous published studies that concentrate on formal training, this empirical analysis includes both formal and informal training. Performance is measured in terms of turnover, employee growth, and survival. It also includes consideration of the firm's context on both training approach and performance. Survey responses from 198 manufacturing SMEs in the UK are analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and ANOVA. Findings indicate that formal training is likely to be a targeted activity that contributes more significantly to performance than informal training. Also, the approach and influence of training are dependent on contingent factors. A model is proposed for a further detailed study of these contingent factors using a multivariate statistical analysis. For SME managers, while they may prefer informal training approaches, they would benefit from seeking a formal training intervention that directly addresses their specific needs. For business support policy, support options need to be flexible enough to provide idiosyncratic solutions. Generic training solutions are not welcomed by SMEs, and are unlikely to provide significant performance benefits. A greater understanding is required of the variety of contingent variables that moderates the relationship between choices of training approach, and between training and performance. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Purpose – Despite the importance of marketing to the success of entrepreneurial ventures very few researchers have studied the links with new business performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine a number of marketing practices in relation to the performance of new firms. Furthermore, the study considers the moderating influence of market competitiveness on the marketing practice-performance relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Both postal and web surveys were utilized to collect responses from 128 entrepreneurs in the early stages of business creation. The data were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factory analyses to establish the marketing practices in new ventures. These results were then subjected to hierarchical regression analysis to study the marketing-performance relationship. Further analysis was conducted to explore the moderation hypotheses. Findings – The results demonstrate that some practices generally associated with marketing – selective distribution, market segmentation and advertising – have limited impact on performance in new ventures. In contrast, other practices such as product/service innovation, market research and service quality and functionality – do help establish competitive advantage. The results suggest that marketing practices associated with “entrepreneurial behaviour” and not “hard” marketing techniques drive new venture success. The results also support the moderation hypotheses confirming that market conditions help explain the role of marketing in new venture success. Research limitations/implications – The paper offers a new theoretical framework to better understand the marketing-performance relationship in new ventures and offers suggestions as to the specific conditions for effective use of various marketing practices. Originality/value – This is one of the first attempts to explore the underlying mechanisms that support marketing practices in new ventures. It reveals the hidden dimensions of the marketing-performance relationship and thereby makes a contribution to both the marketing and entrepreneurship literatures.

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the influence of a range of contingent factors that moderate the approaches to training in manufacturing SMEs.Design methodology approach - The study is based on a regression analysis of data from a survey of 198 manufacturing SMEs.Findings - The findings suggest that there will be times when formal training is appropriate for SMEs. Dependent on size, product, market and organizational structures, formal training will be both required and or encouraged by SME management. The challenge will be to understand specific organizational conditions, and to target the right type of intervention at a particular small firm based on its specific characteristics and needs. This will require a deeper understanding of the context and issues facing a specific firm.Practical implications - Because of the diversity of small firms' structures, product and market conditions and leadership and management approaches, generic support policies are unlikely to be effective. Research, management and policy instruments of training support will need to interact with, and be responsive to, the subtle distinctions of context that will moderate what is more appropriate, and more likely to be welcomed, in the small business sector. There does appear to be a demand for formal training in certain types of firms, but other learning initiatives will have to be supported where formal training is not appropriate or not welcome.Originality value - The empirical analysis and the tentative conceptual framework make an important contribution towards a demand-led policy framework in the area of development and training support for SMEs.

Purpose - This paper asks whether enterprise programmes are overcoming the finance gap faced by their disadvantaged participants. Specifically, the paper seeks to assessthe level of finance invested by participants on a leading UK enterprise programme, the New Entrepreneur Scholarships (NES).Design methodology approach - The paper draws on a postal and e-survey of participants on a leading UK enterprise programme, reporting on 472 respondents. Three capital structure variables (personal investment, external private investment and grants) are employed to analyse the importance of various types of funding in NES businesses. These figures are compared with published data about use of different types of finance, including principal sources of funding, in UK start-ups. Descriptive statistics of perceptions of under-capitalisation, and needs for additional funding, are also reported.Findings - NES Scholars make significantly lower start-up investment than is typical in UK small businesses, particularly in terms of personal finance. Finance provided by the programme is important but does not compensate for poor access to personal and loan investment. Perhaps as a consequence, almost half of the Scholars were under-capitalised.Practical implications - Implications for policy are discussed at length. In particular, practical options for addressing the under-capitalisation of businesses started under enterprise programmes are analysed, including increasing and targeting grant finance, providing soft-loans, improving access to existing sources of public funding for small businesses, easing access to private finance, providing more support for the self-employed through the welfare and tax credit systems and paying childcare subsidies.Originality value - The paper presents novel analysis of the capital structure of businesses started under an enterprise programme and employs this to explore the critical question of whether - and in what ways - these firms are under-capitalised. It also presents new analysis of the policy options available for improving finance to disadvantaged groups. It fills gaps in the literatures relating to small business finance and small business and social inclusion.