The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK SMES and their response
Stewardship and Survival: What can we learn from longstanding family businesses? SOTA No 46
Chancellor’s new measures “leave 3m entrepreneurs high and dry”
News release – for immediate use 24 September 2020 Millions of early-stage entrepreneurs and limited company directors “thrown to the wolves” despite extensions to support schemes Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘winter economy plan’ still excludes millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners from support, the Enterprise Research Centre has warned. Key measures announced by Mr Sunak… Read more
ERC report on indicators of economic performance across England’s LEP areas now published
BEIS have now published the latest ‘LEP Outlook’ report, which provides a comprehensive assessment of economic performance across all of the LEPs in England, based on data brought together by the ERC and Technopolis. The data is in the form of 83 indicators aligned to the foundations of the Industrial Strategy. The research consists of 3 main… Read more
UK companies facing COVID-19 “pincer movement”, data shows
News release: 20 April 2020 New data shows a spike in limited companies going out of business – coupled with a big decline in new starts – has hit all regions and sectors since the start of March New data suggests the UK economy is facing a worrying “pincer movement” due to the coronavirus pandemic,… Read more
Business Dynamism and COVID-19 – an early assessment
Covid19: Critique and Proposals to Develop More Comprehensive and Inclusive Support for the SelfEmployed
Business resilience and the budget
The 2020s are already shaping up to be a decade we won’t forget and we’re barely three months in. Coming on the back of a decade when researchers and policy makers have been focused on the post-financial crisis productivity puzzle, the impact on the global economy from the Covid-19 pandemic brings new challenges and uncertainties…. Read more
What’s in a name? The impact of Geographical Indications of Origin on producer growth and food heritage
Shake-up of geographic origin labels scheme “must educate consumers to support UK food heritage”
Education of consumers and minimising red tape is essential as the UK develops its own ‘geographical indication’ (GI) labelling system for traditional food products following Brexit, new research shows The introduction of a new system for protecting unique British food products such as Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pork pies will depend on better educating… Read more
What’s in a name? The impact of Geographical Indications of Origin on producer growth and food heritage. Research Paper No 86
‘East-west divide’ sees Manchester pull ahead in Northern Powerhouse enterprise race
A new Enterprise Research Centre report has highlighted an enterprise divide among Northern Powerhouse regions across a range of growth metrics An ‘East/West divide’ has opened up when it comes to business start-ups and firm growth in the Northern Powerhouse area, new research has found. The Enterprise Research Centre’s Northern Powerhouse Growth Dashboard found that in the… Read more
‘East-west divide’ sees Manchester pull ahead in Northern Powerhouse enterprise race
A new ERC report published today has highlighted an enterprise divide among Northern Powerhouse regions across a range of growth metrics. An ‘East/West divide’ has opened up when it comes to business start-ups and firm growth in the Northern Powerhouse area, new research has found. The Northern Powerhouse Growth Dashboard found that in the most… Read more
Northern Powerhouse Local Growth Dashboard
Determinants of demand and participation in cultural events
Spatial disparities in SMEs productivity in England
Spatial disparities in SMEs productivity in England. Research Paper No 84
Small business priorities for a new parliament
Newly-elected MPs heading to Westminster, inboxes no doubt groaning with congratulatory messages and policy briefings, have a busy few weeks (and months) ahead. Moving forward with the first stage of getting Brexit done – the EU Withdrawal Bill – will consume much of parliament’s time at the beginning of 2020. But then what? It’s the… Read more
Start-ups slump as entrepreneurs brace for Brexit
Number of new firms being started falls by 13% across the UK – with much sharper declines in many parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland Firms achieving sustained rapid growth and productivity gains remain a small minority ‘Warning signs’ highlight dangers for job creation from ongoing uncertainty around Brexit The number of new start-ups… Read more
UK Local Growth Dashboard 2019 – Start-ups slump as entrepreneurs brace for Brexit
● Number of new firms being started falls by 13% across the UK – with much sharper declines in many parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland ● Firms achieving sustained rapid growth and productivity gains remain a small minority ● ‘Warning signs’ highlight dangers for job creation from ongoing uncertainty around Brexit The number of new… Read more
UK Local Growth Dashboard 2019
Strengthening Sectors – ERC’s 6th State of Small Business conference
Understanding small business dynamics is central to our work at the Enterprise Research Centre and once a year we gather at the Shard in London with 150 researchers, stakeholders, policy makers and small business owners to discuss and debate the state of the small business community. The sixth of these events was held at the… Read more
State of Small Business Britain Conference 2019 – UK manufacturing ‘fragile’ as Brexit nears – research
● Enterprise Research Centre report finds dampened growth across manufacturing firms, as new start-ups also drop by 10% overall and nearly 30% in the automotive sector ● Fewer firms achieving ‘high growth’ status – with key manufacturing regions falling behind ● ERC warns of a “breakdown in dynamism” as Brexit fears stalk the sector The… Read more
State of Small Business Britain 2019
Press Release : State of Small Business Britain Conference 2019
The sixth annual ERC State of Small Business Britain Conference takes place today at The Shard in London. The conference, which this year is being held in partnership with the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), focuses on how we can strengthen key sectors of the UK economy. At the event we will present new comparative research… Read more
Job Creation and Destruction in the UK 1998-2018
Firm-level data hints at “canary in the mine” for UK’s employment ‘miracle’
View video here Firm-level data hints at “canary in the mine” for UK’s employment ‘miracle’ • Enterprise Research Centre study finds established firms are already shedding jobs, despite employment being buoyed by start-ups • ‘Churn’ in private sector saw 4.9m jobs created and destroyed last year • Strong employment figures may be “lulling policymakers into… Read more
Self-employment and Local Growth. SOTA Review No 23
Fast-growth firms and their wider economic impact: UK evidence.
Fecundity, fertility, survival and growth: high-growth firms in the UK and their contribution to job creation, a demographic perspective.
Gazelle firms hoover up rural jobs – but ‘superstars’ boost productivity for all
• Enterprise Research Centre study shows higher numbers of fast-growing firms in a region can lead to net loss of jobs, especially in rural areas • But clusters of companies that combine job growth with productivity gains have a positive impact from ‘spillover’ effects • Policymakers need to be aware of trade-offs from promoting job… Read more
Fecundity, fertility, survival and growth: high-growth firms in the UK and their contribution to job creation, a demographic perspective. Research Paper No 74
Fast-growth firms and their wider economic impact: UK evidence. Research Paper No 73
Northern Ireland’s enterprise progress threatened by Brexit uncertainty
Proportion of early-stage entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland grows 75% in 15 years Meanwhile, established micro-businesses employ 20% of people, showing high rates of profitability and exporting Bad Brexit deal could “set the clock back” on enterprise, academics warn Brexit’s risk to recent positive trends among Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurs and micro-firms has been spelt out… Read more
Understanding micro-businesses in Northern Ireland
NI Local Growth Dashboard
Innovation growth and productivity in SMEs
Introduction
The returns to public and privately funded R&D. Which types of innovation (NTM, NTF, organisational strategic etc.) have the greatest productivity payoffs? How do these payoffs vary depending on whether the innovation was publicly or privately funded? Analysis of the UKIS and matched BSD and GtR.
Keywords | Innovation research, Development, Funding |
Theme | Innovation, management and leadership |
Tweets #research
- RT @HowardPeartree The lack of diversity in #innovation is a 'wicked problem'. @innovateuk and @KTNUK we believe that everyone's… https://t.co/UNEA1BPso6
- The involvement of women, ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups in #innovation and #entrepreneurship… https://t.co/AIIUi0hAsB
- RT @maria_wishart Essential reading on diversity in innovation https://t.co/8qkrQR8ero
- New ERC SOTA Review out today by @DrLornaTreanor reviewing the evidence on #diversity in R&D and #innovation - read… https://t.co/4KNT4H9K8X
- RT @NICRErural Help us become the ‘go-to resource’ for rural enterprise research and insight by joining us as a policy advisor – f… https://t.co/JF5doSC348
Europe-wide study on ‘shock-proof’ firms ahead of Brexit
Two-year project will learn lessons from 3,000 of Europe’s most resilient firms to spread best practice Focus on under-represented groups will seek to understand how entrepreneurs overcome barriers With 70% of European jobs in SMEs, study is seen as vital pre-Brexit to cushion economic fallout A new study on business resilience in five European countries will draw up… Read more
Micro-business Britain
‘Digital dividend’ productivity boost for UK’s micro firms • Biggest ever study of UK ‘micro-businesses’ (with 1-9 employees) shows big boosts to productivity from use of digital technologies • Doubling adoption could provide a ‘digital dividend’ boost to the economy worth £16.6bn • Research points way to boosting output of group of firms traditionally seen as ‘drag’ on… Read more
Business growth snapshot shows Brexit ‘crunch spots’
21st June 2018 • Firms in Northern Ireland and parts of the North of England show strong growth and productivity gains in latest annual study of SMEs • Coastal and rural areas display lower numbers of fast-growing firms, leaving them vulnerable to economic shock • Experts warn threat of more complex trading arrangements could undo recent success of… Read more
UK Local Growth Dashboard 2018
State of Small Business Britain Report 2018
Recent trends in the digital creative sector in Coventry and Warwickshire
Using RCTs as a research method for SME policy research: The UK experience. Research Paper No 66
Using RCTs as a research method for SME policy research: The UK experience.
‘Micro-business Britain’ Research

The Enterprise Research Centre has been commissioned by the UK Government to undertake a large scale survey of micro-firms (i.e. firms with 1-9 employees) which will provide data to identify the specific challenges these businesses face in terms of achieving growth and raising productivity.
The research will survey almost 10,000 businesses in the UK, Ireland and the US and is the largest micro-business study of its kind. Research will focus on firms trading for 3 years or more and exclude the self-employed (with no employees) and also exclude start-ups with little trading history and which are liable to particularly high failure rates. Telephone interviews will be conducted with a member of the leadership team of each randomly selected firm. This approach has been used extensively by the team in previous studies and provides high quality information within a tight timeframe.
Such a large sample size is necessary to ensure we can make robust comparisons between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and inform both local ‘place-based’ policy and national initiatives around ambition, skills, innovation, internationalisation and scale-up. It will create a baseline against which future policy actions can be measured and, through data-linking, allow place-based policy impacts to be monitored and compared. Small (c. 1.5-2k) companion surveys in the US (in collaboration with Georgia Tech) and Ireland (in collaboration with University College, Cork) will provide benchmark information on ambition and growth intentions, supply chains and internationalisation. The databases created will be deposited – in an anonymised form – in the Economic and Social Research Council Data Archive (shortly to be UK Research and Innovation) and will, therefore, be available for use by both the research and policy communities.
The Research will gather detailed information on the enterprise and its leadership team and key areas of focus (reflecting the main concerns of the UK’s proposed Industrial Strategy) will be:
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Ambition – the strategic objectives of the firm in terms of growth, profitability, productivity etc.
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Resilience – attitudes and strategies for dealing with future uncertainty
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Market profile (buy side and sell side) – internationalisation, position in supply chains, public sector customers (procurement)
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Performance – growth, profitability, productivity (value added per employee)
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Innovation and diffusion – innovation activity (product/service, process), IP, links to science base, barriers
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Training and skills – workforce, management and leadership skills
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Finance – external finance – debt, equity, alternative finance; investment profile
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E-business and digital adoption – digital profile of business, ITC access and use
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Eco-system factors – competition, infrastructure, business networks and policy supports (LEPs, Growth Hubs), other sources of advice

There will be two deliverables from the project:
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Three country-specific survey databases which are usable by academics and policy analysts at local and national level;
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A draft headline report (c. 20-30 pages) “Micro-business Britain” to be published in June 2018 providing an overview of key insights from the UK and international benchmark survey datasets.
Further statistical and econometric analysis will continue as part of the ERC’s wider research programme using the “Micro-business Britain” data and data-matching.
The “Micro-business Britain” project will be led by Professor Stephen Roper (ERC) and Professor Mark Hart (ERC) and managed by Katherine Hathaway. Katherine is an experienced project manager and was until March 2016 a Deputy Director of ERC. Prior to working with ERC, Katherine was a Deputy Director in the Enterprise Directorate in BEIS.
If you have a further query about this research please contact Katherine Hathaway on [email protected]
For respondents in Ireland please contact Jane Bourke, Cork University Business at [email protected]
For more information on commissioning of the project please visit UK Research and Innovation
Three more years of enterprise research announced
• The Enterprise Research Centre has secured funding for three further years of rigorous research into SME growth and entrepreneurship The Enterprise Research Centre has secured funding for three further years of research on the state of entrepreneurship and SME growth in the UK. The ERC, a network of researchers with a core team based at Aston… Read more
Turbulent Times – Business as Usual: 4.5 million jobs created or destroyed in 12 months!
As the tortuously complex process of the UK’s departure from the EU takes another twist, Britain’s economy presents us with a deceptively simple conundrum. Yes, we have had record headline jobs growth in recent years coupled with falling unemployment. There are, however, widespread concerns about the quality of those jobs caused by the growing ‘gig… Read more
Fast-growth firms in the UK: definition and policy implications. Research Paper No 63
It’s time Britain’s Brexit negotiators ‘educated’ themselves on the needs of small business
The latest round of Brexit negotiations got off to a predictably bumpy start in the first few weeks after the summer break. Despite suggestions that Theresa May will use a speech in the Italian city of Florence this week to attempt to break the deadlock over the size of the so-called “divorce bill” of future… Read more
The UK’s high growth firms and their resilience over the Great Recession – Research Paper No 62
The UK’s high growth firms and their resilience over the Great Recession
Assessing the business performance effects of receiving publicly-funded science, research and innovation grants – Research Paper No 61( Revised )
Assessing the business performance effects of receiving publicly-funded science, research and innovation grants.
Actual and intended growth in family firms and non-family owned firms: Are they different? Research Paper No 60
Actual and intended growth in family firms and non-family owned firms: Are they different?
High performing firms and job creation: a longitudinal analysis (1998-2013) ERC Insight Paper
Rural business aspirations, obstacles and support: an analysis of the Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2015 Research Paper No. 58
Rural business aspirations, obstacles and support: an analysis of the Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2015.
UK Local Growth Dashboard 2017
Assessing the characteristics, determinants and spatial variations of internationalised new ventures in the UK. Research Paper No 56
Assessing the characteristics, determinants and spatial variations of internationalised new ventures in the UK.
Preparing for Brexit at the local level
In the aftermath of the EU referendum, there is an even greater focus on the performance of the private sector and its ability to provide jobs and wealth creating opportunities across all parts of the UK – especially at the local level – as the UK prepares for Brexit. ERC Deputy Director Mark Hart author… Read more
Is our obsession with fast growth and job creation stifling productivity?
As he stood at the Dispatch Box on November 23rd, Chancellor Philip Hammond laid bare to Parliament a problem that has been vexing economists since the 2008 crash. The UK, he intoned, has a truly dreadful productivity rate. To illustrate the point, he told MPs gathered for the Autumn Statement that the average UK worker… Read more
The contribution of alternative finance to business growth. Research Paper No 51
The contribution of alternative finance to business growth.
UK Local Growth Dashboard 2016
From Trump Towers to the White House
Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election could have consequences for the thousands of UK small and medium-sized businesses, especially as the US is the UK’s biggest export destination. During the campaign Trump made some remarks he may regret come January, but the general policy stance in terms of trade and industry is relatively clear:… Read more
Migrants start more businesses and are more ambitious to grow
The impact of migration on the UK jobs market was a major theme of the Brexit debate. The effects of migration, despite their oversimplification in that debate, are, complex. Migrants may have taken jobs that would otherwise have gone to long-term UK residents and as a consequence helped create a climate of distrust in many… Read more
Decomposing UK aggregate labour productivity and growth: 1998-2013 using the ONS business structure database data. Research Paper No. 48
Brexit for business?
Whether you regard today as a ‘new dawn’ or a ‘national tragedy’ short-term economic uncertainty is on the cards for us all. This is perhaps today’s only certainty. How effectively the UK can manage this uncertainty and then capitalise on the opportunities of life outside the EU will be crucial for future growth. In the… Read more
Modes of firm growth. Research Paper No 46
Nations and regions outpace London for high growth firms
News release NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST UNTIL 00.01 ON FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2016 19 February 2016 Number of high growth firms – seen as indicator of economic health – reaches nearly 12,000, highest level since the dotcom boom. The number of companies achieving high growth in the nations and regions of the UK is rising more than… Read more
Spatial Incidence of High Growth Firms.
SME growth ambition key to UK productivity puzzle
News release NOVEMBER 16TH 2015 UK productivity to be boosted by increasing exporting and innovation among small and medium sized firms. Britain’s productivity is falling behind other economies because it is slower to turn ambitious smaller firms into exporters of innovative new products and services, according to a new report. With more support, it is estimated that up… Read more
Contribution to Job Creation by High Growth SMEs.
ERC Annual Reports
UK Growth Dasboard 2015
Growth Dashboard Workshops.
The Enterprise Research Centre (ERC) in collaboration with GrowthAccelerator conducted a series of One day Workshops around the UK. LEP’s from all Local Areas were invited for discussion on the Growth Dashboard and its findings. The aim of the Workshops were to ensure that our future work delivers some of what LEP colleagues said they would find… Read more