PurposeThe purpose of this research is to outline the preliminary results of an empirical investigation into access to finance and related issues, as experienced by SME owner/managers in the UK and in China.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a telephone survey involving a sample of SME owner/managers operating in the UK and in China. A detailed, semi‐structured questionnaire was administered to a selected sample of 32 matched SMEs. The survey requested quantitative and qualitative information on sources of finance, both preferred and actually used by owner/managers, during three stages in their firm's business cycle: at start up, after two years and over the next five years.FindingsEvidence suggests that there are similarities as well as differences between SME financing in the UK and in China. In terms of initial (start‐up) funding, a large proportion of respondents relied exclusively on financial support from their immediate family. After two years in business, respondents exhibited a higher reliance on own savings and the financial support of bank and other financial institutions. At the end of five years of uninterrupted economic activity, most of the owner/managers in the UK sample relied for their borrowing needs primarily on financial institutions and to a lesser extent upon their own savings. In contrast, owner/managers in China depended mainly upon financial support from their immediate family and to a lesser extent on financial institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample for this research study is both small and selective. It is not meant to represent a random or statistically significant selection of either the UK or Chinese SME sectors.Originality/valueThe financing preferences of owner/managers in the sample have been influenced by their perception of the relative strength and weaknesses of domestic finance infrastructures. The results of this research study is indicative of SME owner/managers' financing needs, attitudes and perception. Future developments and the strengthening of the legal and financial infrastructure in China could significantly reduce the comparative gap between owner/manager preferences in these two countries.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the progress made by UK higher education institutions (HEIs) to deliver the enterprise education agenda. The key areas for research included the type, content and delivery methods of graduate enterprise education being offered in the UK.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was e‐mailed to 123 HEIs in the UK, together with a brief introduction stating the purpose of the research. These were followed up by telephone calls to request responses.FindingsThe paper finds that provision of entrepreneurship education is varied, with both entrepreneurship and innovation courses on offer. Entrepreneurship education is most often offered at postgraduate level and on a part time basis. Overall, delivery methods proved to be more traditional than anticipated, with few instances of action learning or the use of technology to support learning. There were differences between pre‐ and post‐1992 HEIs, and little attention was given to topic areas evident in relevant UK policy initiatives.Research limitations/implicationsSupports entrepreneurship education, key capacities need to be addressed within HEIs, at senior and other levels, so that graduate enterprise embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and delivers the expected results of governmental focus and intervention.Originality/valueThis is one of the first surveys to explore how enterprise education is delivered within UK HEIs.

The rich body of literature examining the entrepreneurship education-entrepreneurship intention relations tends to neglect the influence of contingent and other mediating factors on the relationship. This elusion creates an erroneous assumption that entrepreneurship intentions are insulated from external influences and the entrepreneurship education-intentions relationship is an automatic, directly linear interaction. Contesting this premise, this research explores the influence of exposure to entrepreneurship education (EE), mediated by precursors (such as attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control) to entrepreneurial intentions on the actual entrepreneurship intentions (EI) of vocational education students at a particular institution in Zimbabwe. Drawing on a cross-sectional research design and 154 randomly selected students, the study examines the extent to which they intended to engage in entrepreneurship careers in the near future. A non-parametric technique, the Spearman correlation test, and regression analysis were employed to test the relationships between EE on the direct determinants of EI, between the immediate determinants of EI and actual EI and to test a number of predictive effects. The results demonstrate that EE had a positive correlation with the direct determinants of EI. In addition, EE predicted all the immediate determinants of EI, except for subjective norms. Lastly, there was no evidence to support a direct predictive effect of EE on EI, controlling for other psychological factors. To a large extent, the results validated the Theory of Planned Behavior as a guiding tool for estimating any premeditated entrepreneurial behavior. Thus, the Theory remains an invaluable theoretical lens for academics, educators and policymakers' evaluation of effective ways of enhancing the grooming of potential entrepreneurs.

PurposeThe aim of the research was to explore the lead roles taken by women in some successful small copreneurial companies by studying similar small firms in one sector.Design/methodology/approachHere, a multiple case study approach was selected, using narrative as a key focus, to explore the way the business had been set up, and its subsequent growth. The role of both partners was also explored, plus strategy, leadership and work: life balance.FindingsNew insights emerge about copreneurship where females take lead roles in management, both at start up and through company development. Female partners had an equal or overriding need for achievement to their partners, possessed great self confidence, perceived no barriers to women in business, took a strategic role in the firm from start up through development, drew salaries equal to their male partners and managed life at home and at work.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study approach gives insights but other studies are needed, both quantitative and qualitative, to identify whether these were isolated examples or a common experience for copreneurial firms or for this sector. Two had left scientific jobs to start a food product business – an unexpected finding, requiring further study given the poor records for female participation in UK science professions.Practical implicationsThe study provides insights for those agencies supporting business development by adding to the role models and images of women taking a lead role.Originality/valueThe study focuses on an under‐researched area. Here, the five female copreneurs perceive themselves – and are perceived – as entrepreneurs, taking a lead and developing strategic vision for the firm. This is an under‐researched aspect of female enterprise.

2 "Enter the Dragoness": Firm Growth, Finance, Guanxi, and Gender in China Purpose: In this exploratory study we theorise and examine gender differences in the impact of financial capital on Chinese firms" growth, and investigate the role of guanxi (connections and networks) in the process of obtaining finance.Design/methodology/approach: A structured questionnaire was used to collect comprehensive financial data from 18 women and 69 men, which was analysed empirically.Findings: Women appeared to be no more disadvantaged from obtaining finance than men in China and in some respects appeared to be in a better position. Both women-and men-led firms were significantly stronger in relation to having access to enough finance to grow than at the start-up phase. A majority of participants in our study used guanxi to access finance.Furthermore, we found that guanxi was used equally by men and women, and that guanxisourced finance comprised a significant proportion of the overall capital obtained. Research limitations/implications:One major limitation of our study was that, of the 87 questionnaires returned, 21% were women and 79% were men and, although the findings were not representative or generalisable, the results do suggest a number of possible avenues for future research. Originality/value:We have illuminated the under-explored area of the financing of growth in women-led firms in China. This research agenda is particularly important because (a) SME finance in China is a key need-to-know area (Anderson et al, 2003), (b) there is a paucity of specific research on financing women entrepreneurs in China and (c) of the phenomenal rise of women"s entrepreneurship in China.