Advice and Training Support for the Small Firms Sector in West Yorkshire

The objectives of this research were an assessment of the support and training needs of small businesses in the Bradford region of West Yorkshire, and an assessment of the small business support network in the region. The research was targeted at small businesses with less than 50 employees. The research took place in June/July, 1991. Following qualitative and exploratory interviews, questionnaires were sent out to small businesses within the region. The questionnaire results identified the areas where the businesses felt they needed most support. They also quantified small businesses′ attitudes to existing support services, and examined the support which the entrepreneurs would be likely to give to new training and support schemes. The results showed that the businesses felt that the existing support was inadequate. The results also identified a demand for training courses that matched the specific needs of the small business. Proposes guidelines for the type of training courses that small businesses would like to see.