The use and usefulness of financial assistance to UK SMEs

Benson, A. and Han, L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2778-3338 (2010) The use and usefulness of financial assistance to UK SMEs. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 28 (3). pp. 552-566. ISSN 1472-3425 doi: 10.1068/c0985b

Abstract/Summary

Existing literature has paid considerable attention to the effects of supporting programmes on the survival and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but it lacks a deep understanding of the benefits of the use of such assistance and the factors influencing the evaluation of such services from the perspective of SMEs. We examine the factors affecting the propensity to use assistance when SMEs make financial decisions and the usefulness perceived by the users. We examine 2500 UK SMEs and find that the use of assistance and the usefulness of such services, as perceived by SMEs, are much related to: the characteristics of the entrepreneur, the nature of the business, and the financial products used by the business. These empirical results imply that support and advice on financial decision making, available for SMEs, are important for them to better manage and to access finance. Assistance and advice are also very valuable for SMEs and entrepreneurs to compensate for their lack of human capital and thus facilitate overcoming possible problems in managing their businesses.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/45481
Identification Number/DOI	10.1068/c0985b
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting
Publisher	Pion Ltd
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