Investigate the economic effects of COVID – 19 on SMEs in the UK

Research project on
entrepreneurship

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Background of Research.........................................................................................................4
Rationale of Research.............................................................................................................4
Research Aim.........................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................4
Research Questions................................................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................6
Positive responses for SMEs in order to recover from COVID-19........................................6
Business decision-making that SMEs are undertaking during COVID-19 disruption...........6
Major challenges and opportunities being faced by SMEs in the UK...................................7
Treats from external environment and potential opportunities for SMEs during COVID-19
disruption................................................................................................................................7
Effectiveness of UK National Schemes and policy interventions to support SMEs during
COVID-19 disruption.............................................................................................................8
Literature gap..........................................................................................................................8
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................9
Research philosophy...............................................................................................................9
Research Approach.................................................................................................................9
Research strategy..................................................................................................................10
Research choices..................................................................................................................10
Data collection method.........................................................................................................10
Time horizon........................................................................................................................10
RESEARCH AND FINDINGS.....................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

Title: Investigate the economic effects of COVID – 19 on SMEs in the UK
INTRODUCTION
Background of Research
COVID-19 pandemic is causing the large scale life loss and also severe human sufferings
at global level. This is one of the big public health crisis in the living memory that has generated
main economic crisis. Small and medium size organisations are lifeblood of UK economy. They
are worried regarding weak economy of country. SMEs account for the 50% of total generated
through business of UK and 44% of labour force of country. With COVID-19causing crisis
which impact livelihood and lives (Albonico, Mladenov and Sharma, 2020). There are many
sectors impacted negatively such as construction, agriculture and logistics, while least impacted
SMEs are finance insurance and education sectors. Bleak expectations of UK economy and
negative trends in revenue of SME paint worrisome image. COVID-19 and economic volatility
has significant impact on the SMEs across UK.
Rationale of Research
The present investigation is related to response of the SMEs to the disruption of SMEs.
This research helps a learner to provide the understanding regarding the small scale business and
the COVID-19 disruption. COVID-19 develops the negative impact on the small business firms.
The research is mainly conducted in the personal and professional context. In personal context,
knowledge and understanding of a learner regarding COVID-19 will be enhanced. Other than
this, in professional context, researcher skills of learner will be enhanced so that it can able to
perform the investigation in future (Alonso and et. al., 2020).
Research Aim
The aim of this research is “To Investigate the response of SMEs to COVID-19
disruption.”
Research Objectives
 To identify the positive responses for SMEs in order to recover from COVID-19.
 To highlight the business decision-making that SMEs are undertaking during COVID-19
disruption
 To identify the major challenges and opportunities being faced by SMEs in the UK.
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