How should we help business grow? Delivering business support

Abstract

The abolition of Regional Development Agencies and Business Links saw the scrapping of the institutional infrastructure used to deliver state-funded business support. Beginning by looking at the evolution of state business support infrastructure in England from the 1990s, the article looks at the current system to argue that it is characterised by a lack of structure, extreme complexity, difficulty of access and navigation, and has the potential for duplication and management inefficiencies. While acknowledging that business support is not exclusively a public sector function, it argues for the need for a state-funded approach. The article questions whether there is a need for a reactive system that only assists businesses that are willing to grow, or a more proactive system that engages with businesses that are not making the most of growth opportunities and addresses the ‘long tail’ of underperforming business. The article suggests that most services should be delivered at a national level to ensure greater efficiency and better coordination. The local level should focus on adjusting national schemes to local needs; assisting business in navigating and accessing support; and proactively engaging with the local business base to help it identify growth potential.