TY - JOUR

T1 - Localised strategies for supporting incubation

T2 - Strategies arising from a case of rural enterprise development

AU - Atherton, Andrew

AU - Hannon, Paul D.

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Purpose– To generate and test a coherent framework of incubation strategies and interventions that can be deployed to encourage enterprise development through new venture creation in local economies.Design/methodology/approach– Postal questionnaire to new ventures, combined with ongoing engagement of and consultation with incubation practitioners and local economic development professionals.Findings– Seven generic incubation strategies were identified and developed. Four focus on a premises‐driven approach to incubation, and three on a more process‐based approach. All seven strategies represent opportunities for tailored and hence targeted approaches to the development of incubators and incubation services.Research limitations/implications– The study focused on one rural county in England. There is a need to test the strategies in other contexts, to determine their wider relevance.Practical implications– The seven incubation strategies can be used to develop tailored approaches to incubation, within a comprehensive framework of incubation “options”. The authors suggest that a combination of approaches is developed as the basis for effective local incubation practice.Originality/value– The paper provides a framework for developing incubation strategies that offers coherence and the opportunity for “bottom‐up” yet integrated approaches.

AB - Purpose– To generate and test a coherent framework of incubation strategies and interventions that can be deployed to encourage enterprise development through new venture creation in local economies.Design/methodology/approach– Postal questionnaire to new ventures, combined with ongoing engagement of and consultation with incubation practitioners and local economic development professionals.Findings– Seven generic incubation strategies were identified and developed. Four focus on a premises‐driven approach to incubation, and three on a more process‐based approach. All seven strategies represent opportunities for tailored and hence targeted approaches to the development of incubators and incubation services.Research limitations/implications– The study focused on one rural county in England. There is a need to test the strategies in other contexts, to determine their wider relevance.Practical implications– The seven incubation strategies can be used to develop tailored approaches to incubation, within a comprehensive framework of incubation “options”. The authors suggest that a combination of approaches is developed as the basis for effective local incubation practice.Originality/value– The paper provides a framework for developing incubation strategies that offers coherence and the opportunity for “bottom‐up” yet integrated approaches.

KW - Business formation

KW - Rural areas

KW - England

U2 - 10.1108/14626000610645306

DO - 10.1108/14626000610645306

M3 - Journal article

VL - 13

SP - 48

EP - 61

JO - Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development

JF - Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development

SN - 1462-6004

IS - 1

ER -