Growing the micro-enterprise: observations from the craft sector

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore how realistic ambitions for growth are in craft micro-enterprise.Design/methodology/approach : The paper presents observations from a series of studies of the craft sector in the UK. These were large-scale questionnaires focusing on socio-economic characteristics.Findings - While many owners express an ambitious desire for growth, the question of whether that desire is at all realistic is often not explored in studies. By linking ambition to the skills required to develop the product, a better classification of the enterprise is developed.Research limitations/implications: This work begins to create a research agenda for understanding growth in the micro-enterprise. Practical implications: By focusing on the level of skill needed to produce the product, it is argued that a more workable approach to understanding growth ambitions can be achieved, while at the same time allowing policy makers to identify which enterprises to support and on which to focus limited resources. Originality/value: Studies of the craft sector are relatively few. The data set from which these observations are drawn is the best available. The attempt to dig below stated ambitions by linking it to the skills required is a new contribution.