Purpose-The purpose of this study is to investigate the network promotion role of export promotion programmes in driving SMEs' export performance. Design/methodology/approach-Drawing on a dual institutional and network based approaches to internationalisation, the study tests an integrative model that explores the mediating role of SMEs' relationships quality in the link between Government Export Promotion Programmes (both informational and experiential forms) and export performance. The model was tested using a sample of 160 UK small and medium exporter firms. The data were analysed through a structural equation modelling technique. Findings-The study finds that whilst both informational and experiential export promotion programmes improved all forms of SMEs' relationships, only experiential forms had an indirect effect on export performance. Further, only relationships quality with foreign buyers had a positive impact on export performance. Research limitations/implications-The results of this research provide directions for export promotion organisations in targeting their network support provision and for SMEs in utilising such a support. The study calls for similar research in different contexts to validate the proposed model. Originality/value-This study brings novel findings to the extant literature by conceptualising and validating the importance of the "network promotion" element of export promotion programmes.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence Newcastle University ePrints -eprint.ncl.ac.uk
This paper presents a rapid assessment of current and likely future impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on rural economies given their socio-economic characteristics. Drawing principally on current evidence for the UK, as well as lessons from the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak and the 2007/8 financial crises, it outlines the likely key demand and supply effects, paying attention to the situation for agriculture as well as discussing the implications for rural communities. A distinction is made between the effects on businesses offering goods and services for out-of-home as opposed to in-home consumption. Gendered dimensions are also noted as likely business and household strategies for coping and adaptation. The paper concludes with a brief mapping of a research agenda for studying the longer-term effects of COVID-19 on rural economies.
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