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

Abstract

Whilst there are well-established bodies of knowledge about enterprise support and the role of entrepreneurial learning for SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises) in general and a growing body of evidence relating to environmental capabilities, green/eco-innovation, sustainable supply chains and green skills for SMEs in particular, there is little empirical and peer reviewed literature that address approaches to enterprise support specifically focussed on the needs of the growing number of pro-environmental SMEs. This study undertakes a contextualised review of diverse knowledge domains to identify the key features of enterprise support for pro-environmental SMEs. In doing so, the paper plots the knowledge journey of experienced academic programme providers, from the initial design of an enterprise support programme for pro-environmental SMEs, through a thematic review of academic, grey and other related literature and finally presents a propositional and normative conceptual framework that proposes eight key features of enterprise support for pro-environmental SMEs. The resulting ‘framework for action’ aims to offer a practical tool for providers of pro-environmental enterprise support to review and improve their own provision, an analytical frame for other researchers in this field and a benchmark for SMEs seeking guidance on their pathway to net-zero business performance.

Building an empirically grounded conceptual frame for business networking as a mechanism for pro-environmental business growth

“…The construct validity was supported by internal research review by non-participating researchers and presentation to external researchers and practitioners at a dedicated conference in 2020. In a parallel study of the features of pro-environmental business support (Paterson et al, 2022), expert respondents rated the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement with a strong (81%) level of consensus.…”

“…The importance of networks in developing SMEs’ capabilities is well documented by literature (OECD, 2017) but whilst there is a growing body of evidence relating to the environmental capabilities, eco innovation, sustainable supply chains and green skills of individual SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), much less attention has been paid to networked approaches to pro-environmental and sustainable SME support (Paterson et al, 2022), and the empirical literature that does exist is small and largely takes a firm-centric approach (Jämsä et al, 2011; Ryan et al, 2012). This paper is rooted in research into a business support programme located in the East Midlands of the UK that has successfully delivered pro-environmental benefits to SMEs over several years.…”

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

“…Taking the definition of entrepreneurial learning as 'an experiential process of learning to recognise and act on opportunities and of shared value creation' (Rae, 2017:487), learning towards proenvironmental organisational practices involves action-based as well as formal learning approaches. From the business support perspective, EL offers a useful frame to understand how SMEs learn and, as noted by Paterson et al (2022), in the arena of pro-environmental SMEs, enterprise learning can be an enabler of pro-environmental practices (Conway, 2014), eco-innovations (Brown, 2012), and has the potential to inspire other businesses to become more pro-environmental (Knight and Paterson, 2018). Paterson et al (2022) illustrate our initial conceptual view for the design of enterprise support towards environmental outcomes (presented in Figure 1).…”

“…From the business support perspective, EL offers a useful frame to understand how SMEs learn and, as noted by Paterson et al (2022), in the arena of pro-environmental SMEs, enterprise learning can be an enabler of pro-environmental practices (Conway, 2014), eco-innovations (Brown, 2012), and has the potential to inspire other businesses to become more pro-environmental (Knight and Paterson, 2018). Paterson et al (2022) illustrate our initial conceptual view for the design of enterprise support towards environmental outcomes (presented in Figure 1). It outlines the focus on skills development toward improving environmental performance as well as strengthening the growth potential SMEs towards cleaner growth.…”

“…Apart from technical expertise, the business advisers will need to be attuned to relationship building, collaborative working, and stakeholder management. Alongside the traditional areas of enterprise support focused on growth, marketing and sales, and innovation which should all now incorporate sustainability, skills in the areas of environmental management, systems thinking, responsible leadership development, and sustainable development are becoming increasingly relevant to the business support offer (Paterson et al, 2022).…”