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The data presented here were collected as one component of a project aimed at developing a regional innovation strategy for the West Midlands region of England. Like most regional policy measures the regional innovation strategy programme was driven by concern over widening economic performance differences between (European) regions and was intended as a means of closing observed cohesion and technology gaps [Commission of the European Communities, 1998 Reinforcing Cohesion and Competitiveness Through Research, Technological Development and Innovation COM (98) 275]. More importantly, however, the notion that distinct regional innovation strategies may be developed in each assisted region is premised on a belief in underlying idiosyncrasies in regional resource endowments, competencies, institutional infrastructure, industry, and governance. In other words, it is premised on the belief that there exist, or may exist with sufficient encouragement or facilitation, distinct regional innovation systems within Europe (Thomas K, 2000 Regional Studies34 190–198). Accordingly, my purpose in the current paper is to outline the basic precepts underpinning a systemic approach to innovation, generally, and a regional systemic approach, specifically. Thereafter, an attempt is made to map partially the existence, or indeed absence, of a West Midlands regional innovation system, proxied by available firm-level data, and to comment on the appropriateness of regional systems of innovation as units of analyses.

The ultimately unsuccessful predictive modelling literature has advanced our understanding of small firm growth processes no further than the descriptive and inflexible stage models approach achieved during the 1970s and 1980s. Consequently, this paper suggests an alternative theoretical starting point. Drawing upon the, predominantly aggregate level, contributions of evolutionary and institutional economists it is the intention of this paper to suggest more appropriate foundations for future firm level empirical analyses. With reference to four detailed case studies a preliminary model of small firm growth is posited and potential areas for future ethnographic and survey based research are signalled.

This timely volume brings together current research on knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and innovation from a geographic or territorial perspective. Researchers from across Europe and North America explore areas such as innovation related cooperation between KIBS firms and their industrial partners, how KIBS firms mediate business knowledge and the impact that KIBS make in their local, regional and international contexts.

Within the UK the levels of female entrepreneurship are considerably lower than in many of its peer countries. As part of a strategy to remedy this apparent shortfall, and to improve the environment for existing female-owned businesses, the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched a 'Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise' in 2003. A central rationale for the development of this strategy is a belief in the inadequacies of current business-advice provision and limited access to informal and formal business networks, mentors, and business support for women. However, there appears to be little evidence, either in this paper or in the body of previous research, to support the view that, within the UK, government agencies need to shape business support to reflect the gender of the business user. Drawing upon a sample of 650 small service sector firms in Scotland, we report the findings of a detailed postal questionnaire concerned with exploring usage and satisfaction of a range of formal and informal sources of business advice amongst male and female business owners. Bivariate analysis shows that amongst formal sources women are more likely to use friends and relatives, the Small Business Gateway, and chambers of commerce but are less likely to use suppliers and consultants. However, multivariate analysis suggests that, within the service sector, neither use of external advice nor impact of advice—either formal or informal—is greatly influenced by gender. Rather, it was the characteristics of service sector firms, most notably the number of employees and exporting activity, that explained the use of external advice. Therefore, a nongendered view of business support by the DTI appears more appropriate within the service sector. Nevertheless, the data do indicate more frequent use of informal family-network contacts amongst women business owners.