Even before the Covid pandemic, small businesses with limited resources faced a fast-changing business environment. Now, it is more important than ever for small firms to know how to respond to the many challenges coming their way while also making the most of any opportunities that may arise.
Since the emergence of the pandemic and the economic and social devastation it has wrought, the issue of unknowability of the business operating environment is more readily acknowledged by politicians and support practitioners alike. Agreement as to how progressive small businesses can be assisted in their attempts to cope with such an operating context is more pervasive. This report demonstrates why and how the worlds of small business development policy and support provision flounder in this respect, and offers an insight on how to foster effective small business management of the contemporary business environment.