Towards a conceptual framework of enterprise support for pro-environmental small and medium-sized enterprises: A contextualised review of diverse knowledge domains

Whilst there are well-established bodies of knowledge about enterprise support and the role of entrepreneurial learning for SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises) in general and a growing body of evidence relating to environmental capabilities, green/eco-innovation, sustainable supply chains and green skills for SMEs in particular, there is little empirical and peer reviewed literature that address approaches to enterprise support specifically focussed on the needs of the growing number of pro-environmental SMEs. This study undertakes a contextualised review of diverse knowledge domains to identify the key features of enterprise support for pro-environmental SMEs. In doing so, the paper plots the knowledge journey of experienced academic programme providers, from the initial design of an enterprise support programme for pro-environmental SMEs, through a thematic review of academic, grey and other related literature and finally presents a propositional and normative conceptual framework that proposes eight key features of enterprise support for pro-environmental SMEs. The resulting ‘framework for action’ aims to offer a practical tool for providers of pro-environmental enterprise support to review and improve their own provision, an analytical frame for other researchers in this field and a benchmark for SMEs seeking guidance on their pathway to net-zero business performance

Pro-environmental enterprise support: Developing a framework to unlock the potential of SMEs in sustainability transitions.

Although entrepreneurship is well recognised as a crucial element in fostering economic development and growth, it is yet to be viewed as a significant force in sustainability transitions. Public policy related to the performance and growth of small businesses has, to date, paid little attention to the support mechanisms that help SMEs build capacity towards sustainable development. This paper offers a framework of pro-environmental enterprise support developed through a two-round e-Delphi study, followed by a 2.5-hour virtual focus group involving 21 experts across the spectrum of business support agencies, local authorities, and EU-funded projects delivering pro-environmental enterprise support in England. The findings indicate that support for pro-environmental SME capacity building includes attention to; eco-innovation, environmental strategy, environmental capability development, responsible leadership, sustainable value proposition, greening of supply chains, and clean growth skills. The study also concludes that support programmes and interventions need to be more attuned to the specifics of entrepreneurial learning; the challenges small business face in accessing, capturing, and utilising resources; and that broadening the scope and reach of pro-environmental support programmes needs to be matched by the competences of business support professionals

Building an empirically grounded conceptual frame for business networking as a mechanism for pro-environmental business growth

Whilst there is a growing body of evidence relating to the environmental capabilities, eco innovation, sustainable supply chains and green skills of individual SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), much less attention has been paid to networked approaches to pro-environmental SME support. The empirical studies that do exist mostly take a firm centric approach. This study takes a network centric view to describe hitherto under-explored features of network functionality based on case analysis of a single business support network in the East Midlands of the UK. The resulting conceptual framework offers an analytical tool that can be used to study network functionality for pro-environmental SME development more widely. Empirical data for this case analysis of a single regional low-carbon business network is drawn from interviews with 25 stakeholders, analysis of programme level data and documentation, ‘insider’ observation of network activity and evidence from both independent and internal evaluations. The study charts key aspects of network provision and its impact upon SMEs and wider stakeholders. The paper then presents a conceptual model of pro-environmental business networking that identifies key internal features of network activity as well as various external drivers of multi-stakeholder engagement in the shift to a more sustainable local economy

12 Opportunities on the Journey to Net Zero

The University of Derby has published the ‘Twelve Opportunities’ guides to help SME owners and managers navigate this wealth of support and to celebrate real-life decarbonisation interventions that include examples of carbon reduction, cost saving and clean growth. The guides signal some of the key steps along the pathway to Net Zero and describe examples of how some companies are already innovating in order to be resilient and competitive in the sustainable economy of the future. Together they otfer a route map to decarbonisation, by providing SMEs with a set of tools, resources and inspiration to accelerate their journey towards Net Zero

Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands 2022

Green growth plays a pivotal role in sustainable development as it balances economic growth and the care for the natural environment. There is a district lack of data on the green growth trends regionally and nationally. This report is based on the 7-year study of the green growth trends in the East Midlands undertaken by the Derby Business School and the East Midlands Chamber. Collected as part of the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), this unique data set presents an insightful picture of the business engagement with the green growth. The data shows there has been almost 30% increase in the green growth activity in the East Midlands during the period 2015-2022. There is an increasing trend of diversification into new green products and services as well as green markets. Green skills development is an important factor for green growth success. Businesses urgently require support with green funding and finance to capitalise further on the green growth opportunities in the region and beyond. Policy and business support agencies are critical in supporting increasingly diverse green growth strategies of small and large businesses

Electron detachment from negative ions in bichromatic laser field

Negative ion detachment in two-colour laser field is considered within the recent modification of Keldysh model which makes it quantitatively reliable. The general approach is illustrated by calculation of angular differential detachment rates, partial rates for particular ATD (Above Threshold Detachment) channels and total detachment rates for H$^-$ ion in bichromatic field with 1:2 frequency ratio. Both perturbative and strong field regimes are examined. Polar asymmetry and phase effects are quantitatively characterized with some new features revealed. Phase effects are found to result in a huge anisotropy factor $\sim 10^3$ in the electron angular distribution in the perturbative regime.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures in separate files which are not incorporated in the latex file of the pape

Polarization-dependent transformation of a paraxial beam upon reflection and refraction: a real-space approach

We analyze the paraxial beam transformation upon reflection and refraction at a plane boundary. In contrast to the usual approach dealing with the beam angular spectrum, we apply the continuity conditions to explicit spatial representations of the electric and magnetic fields on both sides of the boundary. It is shown that the polarization-dependent distortions of the beam trajectory (in particular, the "longitudinal" Goos-H\"anchen shift and the "lateral" Imbert-Fedorov shift of the beam center of gravity) are directly connected to the incident beam longitudinal component and appear due to its transformation at the boundary.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure. Formulae (32), (33), footnote 2 and Ref. 27 are added, some sentences are correcte

Творчість митців у вирішенні естетичних проблем в історії візуальної культури України

A question of national consciousnessisone of topicaland his decision is impossible without the study of history of material and spiritual culture of our country. National style characterizesthe artistic phenomenaof folk and professiona lart, and work of artistshas a ponderablevalue and cantheaesthetic aspects of questions of visual culture of Ukraine.Вопрос национального самосознания является одним из актуальных и его решение невозможно без изучения истории материальной и духовной культуры нашей страны. Национальный стиль характеризует художественные явления народного и профессионального искусства, а творчество художников имеет весомое значение и может решить эстетичные аспекты вопросов истории визуальной культуры Украины.У статті розкриваються питання національного самоусвідомлення візуальної культури України, що є одним з актуальних та нагальних аспектів і їх вирішення неможливе без вивчення найкращих зразків матеріальної та духовної культури нашої країни. Національний стиль характеризує художні явища народного та професійного мистецтва, а творчість митців має вагоме значення і може вирішити естетичні проблеми візуальної культури України

Творчість митців у вирішенні естетичних проблем в історії візуальної культури України

A question of national consciousnessisone of topicaland his decision is impossible without the study of history of material and spiritual culture of our country. National style characterizesthe artistic phenomenaof folk and professiona lart, and work of artistshas a ponderablevalue and cantheaesthetic aspects of questions of visual culture of Ukraine.Вопрос национального самосознания является одним из актуальных и его решение невозможно без изучения истории материальной и духовной культуры нашей страны. Национальный стиль характеризует художественные явления народного и профессионального искусства, а творчество художников имеет весомое значение и может решить эстетичные аспекты вопросов истории визуальной культуры Украины.У статті розкриваються питання національного самоусвідомлення візуальної культури України, що є одним з актуальних та нагальних аспектів і їх вирішення неможливе без вивчення найкращих зразків матеріальної та духовної культури нашої країни. Національний стиль характеризує художні явища народного та професійного мистецтва, а творчість митців має вагоме значення і може вирішити естетичні проблеми візуальної культури України

Adiabatic Theory of Electron Detachment from Negative Ions in Two-Color Laser Field

Negative ion detachment in bichromatic laser field is considered within the adiabatic theory. The latter represents a recent modification of the famous Keldysh model for multiphoton ionization which makes it quantitatively reliable. We calculate angular differential detachment rates, partial rates for particular ATD (Above Threshold Detachment) channels and total detachment rates for the Hydrogen ion in a bichromatic field with 1:3 frequency ratio and various phase differences. Reliability of the present, extremely simple approach is testified by comparison with much more elaborate earlier calculations.Comment: 22 pages, 6 Postscript figure