BUSINESS START-UP & SME DEVELOPMENT
The level of creation and growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is a crucial barometer for the economic and social well-being of all countries. Such businesses have a crucial role to play in sustaining a dynamic and competitive economy, and while most remain small, those that do grow rapidly provide seedbeds for innovation and provide the potential to become large and important players in the local and national economy. As a result, economic development agencies have identified supporting new and small businesses as a strategic priority. BiGGAR Economics has appraised and evaluated a wide range of programmes designed to support business start-ups and SMEs.
PROJECTS
- appraisal of proposals to establish a Green Business Incubator in Norwich to act as a demonstrator project for green business premises and practices and a focus for an advisory service on low carbon business practices;
- economic appraisal of the North West Business Start-Up programme, targeting groups and areas of the region with the lowest business start-up and survival rates:
- research conducted with NCR's major Scotland based suppliers into the potential impact of a significant reduction in the scale of NCR's mass production operations in Dundee;
- evaluation and impact assessment for Scottish Enterprise of the Scottish Semiconductor Supplier Forum network;
- evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the Grampian High Growth Start-Ups Programme for Scottish Enterprise;
- evaluation of options for the delivery and structure of Business Gateway services in Tayside.
