Configuration of enterprise support towards the clean growth challenge: A place-based perspective

Abstract

Although clean growth has been identified as one of the grand challenges of the UK Industrial Strategy, public policy paid little attention to the configuration of business support towards enhancing clean growth potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. The dominant approach of policymakers to the design of enterprise support interventions appears to be ‘place-blind’ and downplays the challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises face in engaging with the clean growth policy agenda. Based on a mixed methods methodology, involving a survey of 306 businesses, a range of public engagement exercises and an extensive interview schedule, the study explores small and medium-sized enterprises engagement with the clean growth challenge and associated business support mechanisms. We conceptualise the nexus of place–policy–practice as a way of framing policymaking approach in addressing the challenge. As part of the clean growth policy implementation, business support mechanisms need to move beyond a singular focus on energy efficiency and shift towards a holistic approach to capacity building for sustainable development. Small business needs to project a district voice in the definition of place in the local industrial strategies and have access to enterprise support which is place-based, policy-informed and practice-relevant.

Pro-environmental enterprise support: Developing a framework to unlock the potential of SMEs in sustainability transitions

“…Overall, this aspect of support attracted more agreement from the experts in the second round of e-Delphi when the questions were directed to a ‘desired’ state of the pro-environmental enterprise support rather than a present state. This is consistent with a narrow focus on pro-environmental support for energy efficiency (Baranova et al, 2020) and the lack of a leadership development dimension in most business support interventions.…”

“…The analysis suggests that the reach of pro-environmental enterprise support programmes needs to extend to include a stronger representation from the following environmental stakeholder groups (a) policy community; (b) other enterprise support agencies; and (c) supply chains. The experts commented that local enterprise strategies only weakly articulated business support mechanisms and environmental sustainability targets were often overpowered by a focus on economic growth (Baranova et al, 2020) and lacked articulation of place-based specifics in strategy formulation and implementation mechanisms. However, as Koirala (2018) demonstrates, business support programmes across the EU can be a rich source of data about the barriers SMEs face when attempting to improve their environmental performance and/or engaging in the clean growth agenda.…”

“…Although business support programmes were delivered by local government and or LEP, university settings are recognised as important arenas for the development of low carbon and pro-environmental goods and services (LCEGS), access to green supply chains, and growth in renewables energy technology markets (Fichter and Tiemann, 2018; Prochorskaite, 2014). However, Baranova et al (2020) report a lack of coordination of pro-environmental support at a regional level and deficiencies in the design of support interventions. Holt and Howard (2000) argue for a closer focus on sector-specific, local provision, and integrated environmental business support services at a regional level.…”

“…Holt and Howard (2000) argue for a closer focus on sector-specific, local provision, and integrated environmental business support services at a regional level. Nevertheless, pro-environmental enterprise support often lacks a place-based focus and relevance to local and regional sustainability transitions (Baranova et al, 2020). This is compounded by a dearth of both conceptual and empirical basis for the configuration of pro-environmental enterprise support as a necessary lever for sustainability transition.…”

Towards a conceptual framework of enterprise support for pro-environmental small and medium-sized enterprises: A contextualised review of diverse knowledge domains

“…We also note gaps in the existing empirical literature. As Baranova, Paterson and Gallotta (2020) note, there are significant gaps in knowledge and practice in the relationships between policy, place and practice that bear further investigation; not least in relation to the local capacity and capability to support system innovation towards a low carbon and sustainable economy. To date, the vast majority of studies focus upon the role that provision plays in supporting SMEs to generate within business environmental benefits or to innovate pro-environmental products, services and processes rather than wider place-based or sectoral benefits.…”