Providing Effective Help for Infant Business in Areas of High Unemployment

Abstract

DR. JOHN GILL is Reader in Management Studies at the Sheffield Bsuiness School, England. How most effectively to assist small business people in the early stages of business development is a matter which has concerned policy makers, agencies concerned with business support, and academics researching small business. Effective help was a main focus of a research study of infant business (Gill, 1985) and later became part of another research project into a community endeavour to create employment through small business initiatives in a deprived inner city area. This paper explores the background to both projects, makes some assessment of the needs of the business people concerned, how these needs were met in each case, and finally in the light of these considerations and using these contrasting attempts to create employment, to draw conclusions about how small business people in the earliest stages of business creation may be most effectively helped to survive and grow. The conclusion reached in both cases was that the most effective help structure was one where there was a combination of skilful process consultancycombined with access to a diverse network of 'experts' who were 'on tap but not on top'.