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Article
Publication date: 22 May 2007

Elizabeth Walker, Janice Redmond, Beverley Webster and Megan Le Clus

The reason often cited for the poor relationship between small businesses and their uptake of vocational education and training is that small business owner‐managers claim that…

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Abstract

Purpose

The reason often cited for the poor relationship between small businesses and their uptake of vocational education and training is that small business owner‐managers claim that they are too busy to engage in training or any type of learning activity and that most training is of little value to them. The aim of the research is to examine the relationship between these factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative research methods the study collected data of the knowledge, attitudes and needs of small business owner‐managers, both before and after participation in a training program.

Findings

This study has indicated that small business owners are interested in skills development and training opportunities, provided that they are directly applicable to the current situation in their business, and as long as the delivery process is carefully structured in terms of location, time of day, and length of session.

Practical implications

The success of a human resource management training program offers both an incentive for other educators to continue to pursue small business participation and useful guidelines for the implementation and the development of new programs for the small business sector.

Originality/value

The approach taken in this research has offered important insights into the value of training and how it is evaluated by small business owner‐managers. This is important as owner managers are the primary decision makers about whether or not training takes place.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

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Article
Publication date: 20 March 2007

Elizabeth A. Walker and Beverley J. Webster

This paper aims to investigate age and gender differences in initial motivations for starting a business. What is not known, however, is whether the initial motivations for…

3942

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate age and gender differences in initial motivations for starting a business. What is not known, however, is whether the initial motivations for starting the business are different for older people and whether any gender differences exist. Historically, women were “pushed” rather than “pulled” into business ownership, but more recent studies have indicated that, overall, many women now actively choose self‐employment. However, age may be a new barrier for women and men.

Design/methodology/approach

The study combined a self‐administered questionnaire which was used to collect data relating to general information about the respondent and their business, in addition to their start‐up motivations. In total 270 questionnaires were returned. About 15 in‐depth interviews were also conducted to verify the empirical findings.

Findings

The results showed that self‐employment is a reactive rather than proactive decision for both older women and men; however, women were less inclined to actively seek self‐employment as their employment option of choice. In addition, the findings also show that a significant motivation for many younger women is still because of the double domestic shift, indicating therefore that some things change but some things stay the same for women.

Originality/value

Whereas the majority of previous research has looked at start‐up motivation, few have considered age and gender as independent variables. Given the increasing number of “baby boomers” starting their own businesses, this research can have practical policy implications.

Details

Women in Management Review, vol. 22 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0964-9425

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Article
Publication date: 1 October 2005

Beverley Webster, Elizabeth Walker and Alan Brown

This purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of on‐line training by small businesses in Australia. It explores the relationship between the owner's acceptance and use of…

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Abstract

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of on‐line training by small businesses in Australia. It explores the relationship between the owner's acceptance and use of the internet, and their current participation in training opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of small businesses which had participated in an Australian government scheme aimed at improving the participation of this business sector in training, were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire. The scheme provided training vouchers to businesses to fund training activities for the owner managers.

Findings

Findings suggest that business characteristics can affect the participation in training, with those having plans more likely to engage in training. The use of the internet for training has improved accessibility for small businesses and offers some potential as a delivery medium, however, the findings also highlight the lack of e‐literacy of many small business owners.

Research limitations/implications

Given the increasing importance of small business in Australia, it is necessary to continuously promote and encourage the role of training and skills development for owners and their employees. This study highlights a relationship between growth and the need for training, however, acknowledges that many small business owners are reluctant to participate in skill development and training.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the need for small business owners and their staff to recognise their training needs, and to have a broader understanding of the importance of their training and development needs.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 47 no. 8/9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

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Article
Publication date: 1 December 2004

Elizabeth Walker and Beverley Webster

This paper reports on the difference between men and women's motivations for going into business and why they choose to operate their business from home. Reports the views of the…

2201

Abstract

This paper reports on the difference between men and women's motivations for going into business and why they choose to operate their business from home. Reports the views of the operators regarding community attitudes towards home‐based businesses. Data was collected from a self‐administered survey distributed by post, from home‐based business operators in two local government areas in Western Australia. Two focus groups verified the findings of the survey and investigated the home‐based business operator's perceptions of the communities attitude towards them. It was evident that some sections of the community felt that home‐based businesses are extended hobbies and not to be taken seriously. The paper argues that this view ignores the significant financial and social contributions that home‐based businesses make to the economy and society in general and is not a view that is held by home‐based business operators themselves.

Details

Women in Management Review, vol. 19 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0964-9425

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Article
Publication date: 27 June 2008

Karl von Holdt and Edward Webster

Is labour's decline permanent, or is it merely a temporary weakening, as Beverley Silver suggests in her recent book, as the labour movement is unmade and remade in different…

2420

Abstract

Purpose

Is labour's decline permanent, or is it merely a temporary weakening, as Beverley Silver suggests in her recent book, as the labour movement is unmade and remade in different locations and at different times? The article aims to examine this question in South Africa, one of the newly industrialised countries of the 1960s and 1970s, now largely bypassed by new manufacturing investment destined for countries such as India and China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper concentrates, through six case studies, on the growing non‐core and peripheral zones of work and examines the impact of the restructuring on labour.

Findings

The evidence presented is ambiguous. While there have been significant innovative union organising experiments, it may be that the structural weakening of labour has been too great and that the new sources of power are too limited, to permit effective reorientation.

Practical implications

It is concluded that significant progress will only be made if there is a concerted effort to commit resources and above all to develop new associational strategies that recognise the potential for symbolic power as an alternative to the erosion of structural power of workers and the unions that represent them. Unless such a shift is made the crisis of labour movements internationally may be better understood as a permanent crisis than the temporary one Silver suggests.

Originality/value

The paper identities the potential for new strategies to develop and sustain associational and symbolic power that might compensate for weakened structural power and facilitate a remaking of the labour movement under new conditions.

Details

Employee Relations, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0142-5455

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Book part
Publication date: 3 August 2018

Karl Spracklen and Beverley Spracklen

Abstract

Details

The Evolution of Goth Culture: The Origins and Deeds of the New Goths
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-677-8

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Book part
Publication date: 10 February 2025

David Horsfall

The Tyseley Energy Park’s (TEP) mission is to transform clean energy innovation by stimulating and demonstrating new technologies, turning them into commercially viable systems…

Abstract

The Tyseley Energy Park’s (TEP) mission is to transform clean energy innovation by stimulating and demonstrating new technologies, turning them into commercially viable systems contributing to Birmingham City Council’s commitments to be Net Zero (NZ) by 2030.

TEP’s development plan commits to delivering low and zero carbon power, transport, heat, waste and recycling solutions delivered through development phases: 10 MW Waste Wood Biomass Power Plant, a £47 million investment, supplies renewable electricity to Webster and Horsfall, the original site owner, along with tenants across this 17-acre site, providing the foundations for a distributed energy system. The Waste Wood Biomass Power Plant diverts 72,000 tonnes of waste wood from landfill with the sustainable power generated equivalent to 17,000 homes’ requirements. Later, phases have seen the development of the UK’s first low and zero carbon refuelling station with the hydrogen station supplying public and commercial vehicles with hydrogen for Birmingham’s bus fleet. Partners on site are in the process of bringing forward a first-of-a-kind commercial scale electric charging station supply liquid fuels including drop in replacements for diesel such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is also avaliable.

On site, the University of Birmingham has created a sustainable energy research and innovation centre that promotes innovation in waste, energy and low carbon vehicle systems across the West Midlands.

Within refurbished building on site, the Incubation Hub offers an integrated package of support to drive business growth amongst low-carbon energy businesses. This initiative has been developed in partnership with the University of Birmingham’s Energy Institute’s SME Engagement Programme.

Details

Examining Net Zero: Creating Solutions for a Greener Society and Sustainable Economic Growth
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83608-574-4

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Book part
Publication date: 3 August 2018

Karl Spracklen and Beverley Spracklen

Abstract

Details

The Evolution of Goth Culture: The Origins and Deeds of the New Goths
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-677-8

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Case study
Publication date: 27 January 2023

Boris Urban and Stephanie Althea Townsend

The learning outcomes of this study are as follows:▪ evaluate the difficulties of entry-level women entrepreneurs in the South African farming industry;▪ appreciate the…

Abstract

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this study are as follows:▪ evaluate the difficulties of entry-level women entrepreneurs in the South African farming industry;▪ appreciate the entrepreneurial journey of a women entrepreneur in the farming industry;▪ assess the role of networking and support programmes in prompting women entrepreneurs in South Africa;▪ understand the role of diversification in building a sustainable business in today’s COVID-19-affected economic environment;▪ make an informed decision regarding how COVID-19 had negatively affected the farming industry; and▪ critically evaluate which options are available for women entrepreneurs to overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 and remain sustainable businesses.

Case overview/synopsis

In April 2021, managing director and co-owner Beverley-Anne Joseph, was considering the long-term business strategy options for Zelpy, her hop farm business outside George, a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. As the first black woman hop farmer in Africa, she had run a successful business supplying hops to South African Breweries (SAB), a subsidiary of the global conglomerate Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). To date, her hop farming business had not been impacted by the South African Government’s COVID-19 lockdowns that impacted the sale of alcoholic beverages. However, it had given her a wake-up call as to the risk of having most of her eggs in one basket. She now had to consider how to diversify her farming business to minimise risk.

Complexity academic level

MBA, Masters in Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Executive Education short courses.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Details

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Case Study
ISSN:

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Book part
Publication date: 3 August 2018

Karl Spracklen and Beverley Spracklen

Abstract

Details

The Evolution of Goth Culture: The Origins and Deeds of the New Goths
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-677-8

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