Publication
Insight
The Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS) – Research Overview – the first 10 years
Published: 4 November 2026
ERC Insight paper
Associated Themes
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Longitudinal Small Business Survey
Taken together, ten years of LSBS-based research suggest that four core factors drive SME performance: capabilities, networks, finance, and context. Innovation, exporting, resilience and growth are most likely to emerge where firms combine strong management and workforce capabilities with access to supportive networks, adequate finance and enabling local ecosystems. The accumulated evidence moves beyond searching for a single driver of success and instead underscores the importance of understanding SMEs as part of a wider, interconnected business ecosystem.
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