Despite the rapid growth of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector since the 1970s, rates of entrepreneurial activity in the UK remain moderate by international standards. Since its arrival in 1997 the Labour government in the UK has taken steps to tackle barriers to entrepreneurship by...

This paper critically reviews the structure and function of regional knowledge networks and modes of engagement between universities and the business community. It is argued that while networks between universities and the business community are growing, it is often difficult to ascribe improved...

HUGGINS R. (2003) Creating a UK competitiveness index: regional and local benchmarking, Reg. Studies 37 , 89-96. This article assesses the relative economic competitiveness of regions and localities in the UK by constructing a single index that reflects, as fully as possible, the measurable...

HUGGINS R. (1998) Local business co-operation and Training and Enterprise Councils: the development of inter-firm networks, Reg. Studies 32 , 813-826. This paper investigates awareness among Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) and firms in the UK of inter-firm networking, and the...

The economic downturn post-2000 badly undermined the rapid growth of knowledge-based and technology-led sectors. This article reflects on post- and pre-2000 development from the perspective of the evolution of regional clusters of knowledge-based activity. Four case studies of knowledge clusters...

The academic discussion of business co-operation and networks is often undertaken in fairly abstract terms. The objective of this paper is to add some realism through “on-the-ground†examples of inter-firm networks in which Training and Enterprise Councils (TECS) have acted in a...

This paper focuses on the role of inter-organizational networks as facilitators of knowledge flow and innovation. It introduces the concepts of network capital and network space to complement existing notions of social capital and geographic space as explanatory factors underpinning the impact...

The increasing economic focus on knowledge has spurred the growth and development of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). This paper seeks to further understand the evolution and growth of KIBS firms and the nature of their networks and markets. It is argued that changing...

This paper examines university and higher education institution (HEI) involvement in regional knowledge commercialization processes, using London as a case study. It analyses the determinants of HEI knowledge commercialization, and the characteristics of HEIs and the sources of financial capital...

Regions have gained a position at the forefront of the economic development policy agenda. However, the regional approach to economic strategy remains contested. This paper tests the extent to which regional policy in less competitive regions is accounting for issues relating to entrepreneurship...