Autumn 2021 Press Coverage

Finextra: One in seven adults now plan to start a business – NatWest The Entrepreneurs Network: Hidden Gems East Midlands Business Link : Scheme to boost mental health and productivity of East Mids businesses praised by Mind charity boss Business Leader: How the pursuit of sustainability can drive growth for SMEs

GEM UK 2020 report

The GEM UK 2020 report is published today. Authored by the UK team and sponsored by NatWest the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is the most authoritative annual research into entrepreneurial activity and trends. While the global business landscape has changed since 2020, the report and the data within is full of insight as we consider the state of entrepreneurship… Read more

How Can SMEs Contribute to Net Zero?

When it comes to climate change, most attention is placed on the need for action by governments, big business, and individual householders. There are nearly 6 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, employing 16.8 million people, yet they attract far less scrutiny for their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and tend to… Read more

NI research reports on SMEs

Two new reports have been published by the Department for Economy NI.  The research completed by Queen’s University Belfast provides insights on how Northern Ireland Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) have responded to environmental issues and on the digital transformation process of Northern Ireland small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The… Read more

COVID-19, business support and SME productivity in the UK

Published this morning read the latest ERC Research paper and Blog looking at how UK COVID-19 emergency public support measures, furlough funding and loan guarantees during the pandemic have influenced firms’ future investment intentions and employee wellbeing. Click here for the Research paper Click here for the blog

Helping firms along the right road?

Over the last year businesses across the country have been supported by the government through the furlough scheme, loans and grants. But what effects have these schemes had on firms and how will this shape their performance in the future? It’s early days of course and the impacts of COVID-19 continue to be felt in… Read more

May 2021 Press Coverage

GOV.UK: Business Secretary names top business brains set to boost Help to Grow: Management scheme

Episode 1 : How have SMEs fared during the pandemic?

In the first episode Lee Hopley is joined by Professor Stephen Roper, Director of the ERC, and Professor Mark Hart and Dr Vicki Belt, Deputy Directors at the ERC discussing  the ERC’s research into small and medium-sized enterprises, and particularly about what they have found out about how businesses have fared over the past year during… Read more