Barriers to Business Support in the South East Wales Timber Industry

Abstract

This study examines the barriers to business support in the secondary conversion sector of the Timber Industry in South East Wales. A currently ongoing benchmarking and mapping exercise for the Welsh Timber Industry and the data gained from a survey of timber related businesses in South East Wales provided the authors with the contacts and information necessary to conduct this study.

The subject was approached from the provider and user side. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the most common and influential providers of business support in the chosen geographical area. Telephone questionnaires and focus groups contributed on the user side. Industry experts added their views via interviews to confirm and complete the findings.

The results of the study showed a number of contradictory perceptions of both providers and users of business support. Some of these perceptions were based on facts and some on assumptions and hearsay.

Furthermore, the findings highlighted a fundamental gap in understanding between the private and public sectors in terms of requirements and objectives. This became particularly obvious when the use of support programmes was discussed. The range of programmes, their complexity and bureaucratic processes and the plethora of delivery agencies were the most criticised points made by users. The lack of understanding of the constraints providers have to operate under was the main complaint from business support agencies. The training issue and associated problems featured highly in the focus groups.

In the conclusion a number of recommendations are made to address the problems highlighted by the findings. These include a reduction of support programmes, re-imaging of services, extensive awareness raising and public relations, a better understanding in the private sector of how public funds are used, the abolition of grants in favour of loans, concentration on mentoring services and the introduction of a Timber Industry Advisory Service.