Investigating SMEs' Response to COVID-19 Disruption in the UK

This research report aims to investigate the response of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to COVID-19 disruption in the UK. The report includes a literature review, research methodology, and research objectives, as well as an analysis of SMEs' decision-making practices, challenges, and opportunities.

Research Project-proposal

Table of Contents
Title - To investigate the response of small and medium sized enterprises to COVID-19
disruption: implications for the United Kingdom............................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research aims..............................................................................................................................1
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Research question........................................................................................................................2
Literature review..............................................................................................................................2
Research methodology.....................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

Title - To investigate the response of small and medium sized enterprises to
COVID-19 disruption: implications for the United Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
COVID 19 pandemic lead to have major negative impact on different practices or
performance of business. Due to this pandemic situation small and medium size enterprises has
affected and it is not able to conduct its activities in successful manner. it is essential for SME’s
to develop effective strategies which will assist in overcoming with the negative impact of
COVID 19 disruptions (Weeks and Gil de Zúñiga, 2021). Right and appropriate control
measures will support in improving performance of business and effectively carry out its
practices. This research report is based on the topic of investigate the response of small and
medium sized enterprises to COVID-19 disruption. In this positive immediate response of SMEs
has been analysed. Effective business decision making of SMEs along with the major challenges
has been determined. This report consists of different threats and opportunities in external market
area for SMEs. Apart from this, research methodology has been included in order to collect
appropriate data.
Research aims
To investigate the response of small and medium sized enterprises to COVID-19
disruption: implications for the United Kingdom.
Research objectives
 To discover various actions of small and medium enterprise for dealing with the impact
of in the United Kingdom as well as ensure stable continuity of business.
 To evaluate the different decision making practices of business for identifying crucial
issues or challenges through which small and medium enterprise have to deal in United
Kingdom.
 To analyse several threats as well as opportunities which is posed by external market
environment for small and medium enterprise along with this the helpfulness of National
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Schemes or policy interventions which assist support small and medium enterprise for
enhancing its business practices.
Research question
 What are various actions of small and medium enterprise for dealing with the impact of
in the United Kingdom as well as ensure stable continuity of business.
 What are the different decision making practices of business for identifying crucial issues
or challenges through which small and medium enterprise have to deal in United
Kingdom.
 What are several threats as well as opportunities which is posed by external market
environment for small and medium enterprise along with this the helpfulness of National
Schemes or policy interventions which assist support small and medium enterprise for
enhancing its business practices.
Literature review
 To discover various actions of small and medium enterprise for dealing with the
impact of in the United Kingdom as well as ensure stable continuity of business.
As per the article of International Labour Organisation (2021), it has been analysed that it
is crucial for SMEs to take right and accurate responses in order to successfully dealing
with the negative impact of COVID 19. This pandemic has majorly influence functioning
and operations of business that lead to lower profits and production of business. due to
lockdown business are not able to perform its functions and carry out set of practices of
business in appropriate manner (Barouki and et.al., 2021). it is essential that take right
and accurate step for successfully recovering from COVID 19 and it will lead to have
influence over increasing business performance and enhancing its functioning. It is
crucial to become and ensure stable business continuity. It has been analysed that by
taking positive immediate responses SMEs of United Kingdom is able to recover from
COVID 19. It has been analysed that in order to recover from COVID 19 SMEs of
United Kingdom is considering several ways such as reduction of production, negotiating
wage with workers as well as revises payments terms with the suppliers and banks. These
are effective and efficient responses of SMEs and through this they will be able to carry
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out its practices successfully without getting any losses. SMEs of United Kingdom are
reducing their production of services or goods so that they can match with the demand of
customers. Due to COVID 19 demand of products and services has been reduced so
SMEs are manufacturing products which is according to the requirements of products in
market area.
 To evaluate the different decision making practices of business for identifying
crucial issues or challenges through which small and medium enterprise have to
deal in United Kingdom.
According to the article of International Labour Organisation (2021), it has been determined
that there are different major and crucial challenges faces by SMEs in that is negatively affecting
its performance and productivity level (Bausch, Gartner and Ortanderl, 2021). This will lead to
have significant impact over business and lead to affect functioning of business in market area. It
is essential that SMEs are taking right and accurate decision in order to identify the crucial
challenges so that this could be overcome in significant manner. Major challenges that is faced
by SMEs in UK are mention below –
 Lower revenues – Due to Covid 19 revenues of business have been reduced of SMEs.
This pandemic situation has influenced the functioning and smoothly performance of
business in market area. Due to which they are not able to conduct required ser of
business practices in effective and efficient manner. This has negatively affected
profitability and revenues of business. reduction in revenues and profitability of business
can be consider as the major challenges that is faced by SMEs of UK.
 Reduced demand of order – there is highly reduction in demand of order form customers.
this can be consider as one of the crucial challenges for SMEs of UK as reduction in
demand lead to directly affect sales and profits of business. because of lockdown or
covid 19 pandemic situation customers are not able to motive out of their home for
shopping (Giangreco, 2021). This is also influencing their potential and capability to
purchase products and services. COVID 19 situation has also reduces the purchasing
capability of individual due to which they are not purchasing products or services. this is
one of the major challenge for SMEs conducting its practices in UK market area.
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 To analyse several threats as well as opportunities which is posed by external
market environment for small and medium enterprise along with this the
helpfulness of National Schemes or policy interventions which assist support small
and medium enterprise for enhancing its business practices.
It has been analysed that there are several threats and issues which is poses by external
market environment. This will lead to influence functioning and performance of business. it has
been determined that inadequate access and marketing platforms can be consider as the major
challenge or threat for SMEs. Due to this they are not able to gather significantly amount of
funds and resources for successfully conducting its business operations. Lack of new technology
is also threat for SMEs as due to this they are not able to carry out business task in significant
and appropriate manner. There are different opportunities which should be grab by SMEs of UK
market area with the motive of enhancing overall performance level. UK government has
developed effective policies and several government schemes has been developed that will
support in dealing with the issues of business in appropriate manner (Armbrecht and et.al.,
2021). UK government is developing embed strategies toward the private sector and SMEs in
countries’ broader national development and poverty reduction programmes. This is focusing on
strengthen SME capacities to improve their competitiveness in domestic, regional and global
markets.
Research methodology
This is refer as the process which is used by researcher in order to find appropriate and
accurate data. Research methodology includes the belief and procedure that helps in finding data
and information from different sources with the motive of attaining desired outcomes.
Data collection method – There are different methods of data collection which support in
identifying right and accurate information about the topic. There are two major sources of data
collection that is primary and secondary methods. This is mention below –
 Primary data collection – This is refer as the practices of collecting first hand information
that will assist in finding right and accurate data according to research topic. Investigator
who is finding primary data is known as the owner of the data and this type of
information is significant for collecting appropriate information which is according to the
needs. The major advantage of considering primary data is that it helps in finding correct
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information which is required by researcher. This type of data collection method is very
time consuming and required needs to have high cost for finding primary data.
 Secondary data collection – This type of data collection method can be describe as the
practice of collecting information form already gathered data. secondary data collection
can be describe as the activity of finding and analysing required information form
primary sources (Hanson and Sigman, 2021). This is one of the effective and efficient
method that helps in assembling right and appropriate information according to the
requirement of researcher. There are some advantages and disadvantages of collecting
information form secondary data. the main pros of secondary data collection is that it
helps in finding required set of information is less cost and time. Through this researcher
is able to find information in effective manner without spending much time and cost of
collection. The main disadvantage for secondary method of data collection is that it is not
able to find accurate and appropriate information which is significant for researcher.
Thus, in order to perform this research, investigator is considering secondary method of
data collection. This is effective in order to analyse and evaluate data as well as saving
time and cost of researcher.
Research approaches – The approaches of collecting and analysing information is majorly
classified into two parts that is qualitative and quantitative research. Both of these are effective
way analysing data and it will support in identifying accurate data and accomplish desired
outcomes.
 Qualitative research approach – This is significant approach of collecting information and
data that will help in exploring concepts and experiences in more detail. It is essential that
researcher is considering qualitative research approach in order to find and collect
information. It has been analysed that qualitative research approach can be expresses in
words and it is used to understand thoughts, experiences and concept (Giangreco, 2021).
This helps in gather appropriate and in depth detail about the topic which is not
understood well. Through the support of qualitative research investigator will be able to
find right and appropriate information which is according to the topic.
 Quantitative research approach – This can be describe as the approach of gathering and
assembling data that is expresses in the form of numbers. This type of research approach
is significant for finding information in a systematic manner and it is used to conform the
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theories and assumptions. Through the support of this type of research it is helpful for
establishing generalizable facts regarding the topic. This type of research includes
representation of collecting information in form of numbers and statistical data.
quantitative research includes experiments, observations, surveys and so on.
For this research, investigator is considering mixed approach of research. This includes that
both qualitative research and quantitative research has been considered by researcher.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it could be concluded that there are different issues and problems
created by COVID 19 in order to successfully performing its functions. This will lead to have
major impact on smoothly functioning of business as well as influence overall performance level.
It is essential for SMEs to analyse and determine different issues or challenges in order to
successfully deal with the problems. There are several opportunities which should be gained by
SMEs in order to influence performance of business.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Weeks, B.E. and Gil de Zúñiga, H., 2021. What’s next? Six observations for the future of
political misinformation research. American behavioral scientist, 65(2), pp.277-289.
Barouki, R. and et.al., 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic and global environmental change:
Emerging research needs. Environment international, 146, p.106272.
Bausch, T., Gartner, W.C. and Ortanderl, F., 2021. How to Avoid a COVID-19 Research Paper
Tsunami? A Tourism System Approach. Journal of Travel Research, 60(3), pp.467-485.
Giangreco, M.F., 2021. Maslow’s Hammer: teacher assistant research and inclusive practices at a
crossroads. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 36(2), pp.278-293.
Armbrecht, J., and et.al., 2021. 20 Years of Nordic event and festival research: a review and
future research agenda. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 21(1), pp.49-59.
Hanson, J.K. and Sigman, R., 2021. Leviathan’s latent dimensions: Measuring state capacity for
comparative political research. The Journal of Politics, 83(4), pp.000-000.
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