The Response of Small and Medium Enterprises to COVID-19 in the UK

This business research project investigates the response of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to the COVID-19 disruption in the United Kingdom. The research aims to determine the immediate positive responses of SMEs, identify current decision-making processes and challenges faced, and evaluate market threats and opportunities. The project explores key research questions related to business stability, decision-making, external market factors, and national schemes supporting SMEs. A literature review examines existing research on SME responses to the pandemic, highlighting government regulations, business closures, and essential operations. The research methodology employs positivism and deductive approaches, utilizing qualitative data collection from existing documents such as books, journals, and government publications. The project also includes a risk assessment form addressing research ethics and integrity, ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved.

Business Research
Project

Contents
Research proposal...............................................................................................................................3
Research topic - Alternative Project on Entrepreneurship..............................................................3
Research title - The Response of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to COVID-19 Disruption
and the Implications for the United Kingdom (UK).........................................................................3
Research aim........................................................................................................................................3
Research objectives.............................................................................................................................3
Research Questions.............................................................................................................................3
Literature Review................................................................................................................................4
Research Methodology........................................................................................................................5
References............................................................................................................................................7
RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY........................................................................................8

Research proposal
Research topic - Alternative Project on Entrepreneurship
Research title - The Response of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to
COVID-19 Disruption and the Implications for the United Kingdom (UK).
Research aim
To investigate the responded of small and Medium size enterprises during the COVID
19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Research objectives
 To determine the immediate positive response of small and medium business adopted
in order to recover from COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom for ensuring
business is stable.
 To identify the current decision making of small and medium business and determine
the main challenges faced by them in the UK during the COVID 19 pandemic.
 To evaluate the threats occur due to external environment of market and also
determine the potential opportunities for SMEs. Investigate about the National
Schemes as well as policies investigations for supporting and sustainability of SMEs.
Research Questions
 What are the immediate positive response of small and medium business adopted in
order to recover from COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom for ensuring
business is stable?
 What are the current decision making of small and medium business and determine
the main challenges faced by them in the UK during the COVID 19 pandemic?
 What are the threats occur due to external environment of market and also determine
the potential opportunities for SMEs. Explain about the National Schemes as well as
policies investigations for supporting and sustainability of SMEs?

Literature Review
 To determine the immediate positive response of small and medium business adopted
in order to recover from COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom for ensuring
business is stable.
As per the view point of Bartik and et. al., (2020) there are positive immediate responses
shown by the small and medium business during the pandemic of COVID 19 in the United
Kingdom such as they follow all the rules and regulations develop by government. In
addition to this SMEs also close their business operations and functions during the lockdown
due to COVID 19 pandemics. In addition to this SMEs which offer essential goods or
products like milk, medicines, food and so on operate according to the guidelines of
government. This positive responses help government in controlling COVID 19 pandemic in
United Kingdom effectively.
 To identify the current decision making of small and medium business and determine
the main challenges faced by them in the UK during the COVID 19 pandemic.
According to the perspective of Cowling, Brown and Rocha (2020), in current time there are
several effective decision are taken by small and medium business such as they follow proper
guidelines of government. In addition to this respective types of business also ensure that
safety as well as security of their employees and customers from getting infected from
COVID 19. On the other hand there are several challenges experienced by small and medium
business during the respective pandemic as they not able to operate which impact on their
business. Moreover there are some business who need to close their business due to huge
loss.
 To evaluate the threats occur due to external environment of market and also
determine the potential opportunities for SMEs. Investigate about the National
Schemes as well as policies investigations for supporting and sustainability of SMEs.
As per the view point of McKibbin and Fernando (2020) there are several external
environment in the market which impact or consider as threat for a company operation such
as economy condition of nation, customers preference, political condition and many more.
But from all these there are several opportunities arise for the small and medium business as
government provide them financial support which help them in conducting business again
properly. On the other hand National Schemes as well as policies investigations are

considered support activities developed by government so that SMEs can sustain in market
during COVID 19 pandemic.
Research Methodology
It is considered as the tool, techniques or methods which are generally adopted by a
researcher in order to gather authenticate as well as reliable information related to the topic of
research. In respect of this research researcher adopt different methods so that they can
collect proper information or data related to topic.
 Research philosophies – It is determined as views or philosophies which is adopted
by an investigator for gathering authenticate information related to topic of research.
There are two kinds of research philosophies i.e. interpretivism as well as positivism
(Nicola and et. al., 2020). In respect of this research researcher is adopting positivism
as through that they able to analyse theoretical information in proper manner. This
will help them in evaluating the secondary information in appropriate way so that they
attain desire outcome successfully.
 Research Approaches – This is considered as procedure which is used by researcher
for conducting research work properly. For an investigator it is essential to select most
appropriate research approach for their research as through that they conduct work
properly and effectively. There are main two kinds of research approach from which a
researcher may adopt i.e. deductive and inductive. In respect of this research project
an investigator is adopting deductive because that help in evaluating the secondary
information in proper and effective manner.
 Research strategies – It is considered as strategy which is considered by an
investigator for collecting information or data related to topic of research. There are
several types of research strategies which a researcher may adopt in respect of this
researcher will conduct evaluation of existing information. This will help them in
gathering more authenticate and proper information related to the project or research
in effective manner.
 Research Choice – It is determined as the type of information on which researcher
want to base their research project (Oldekop and et. al., 2020). The outcome of the
research is highly depend on the research choice of investigator so it is essential for
them to select most appropriate one according to their requirement. There are two

types of research choice for researcher i.e. qualitative as well as quantitative. In
respect of this research an investigator is adopting qualitative according to which they
gather theoretical information which generally not include numerical calculation. This
is mainly gathered from the existing documents.
 Data collection – It is determined as method or technique from which researcher of
research gather information or data related to the topic or aim or objectives. There are
two kinds of data collection method i.e. secondary data collection method as well as
primary data collection method. In respect of this research project investigator is
adopting secondary data collection method. According to this, researcher collect
information or data from the existing documents such as online as well as offline
books, articles, government documents and many more.

References
Books and Journals
Bartik, A.W. and et. al., 2020. How are small businesses adjusting to covid-19? early
evidence from a survey (No. w26989). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Cowling, M., Brown, R. and Rocha, A., 2020. <? covid19?> Did you save some cash for a
rainy COVID-19 day? The crisis and SMEs. International Small Business
Journal, 38(7), pp.593-604.
McKibbin, W.J. and Fernando, R., 2020. The global macroeconomic impacts of COVID-19:
Seven scenarios.
Nicola, M. and et. al., 2020. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic
(COVID-19): A review. International journal of surgery (London, England), 78,
p.185.
Oldekop, J.A. and et. al., 2020. COVID-19 and the case for global development. World
Development, 134, p.105044.
Queiroz, M.M., Ivanov, D., Dolgui, A. and Wamba, S.F., 2020. Impacts of epidemic
outbreaks on supply chains: mapping a research agenda amid the COVID-19
pandemic through a structured literature review. Annals of operations research,
pp.1-38.

RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Section A: FORM A
For all Undergraduate/Postgraduate Dissertations and Research
Projects
Please fill in this form, then SAVE IT AS A PDF and submit as instructed by your supervisor with
your project proposal
Your name: (first) ……………………… (last) ………………………
Student number: …………… Your email address:
PROJECT DESCRIPTON
Please answer the following questions:
1. Do you intend to involve human participants in the conduct of your research? If no,
please skip questions 2 & 3.
☐ Yes ✓ No
2. Does your research involve vulnerable adults or under-18s?
☐ Yes ☐No
3. Could your research potentially expose you, anyone assisting you, or participants to
emotional harm?
☐ Yes ☐No
4. Will your research involve travelling to geo-politically unstable regions/countries (e.g.
areas affected by war, civil unrest, natural disasters, or listed as unadvisable to travel
by the UK government?
☐ Yes ✓ No
5. Will your research involve access to security-sensitive material? If yes, you must include
a data management statement.
☐ Yes ✓ No
This proposal must be completed with the assistance of your supervisor. You can change
the size of the boxes (below) by typing or deleting as necessary.

It is very important to convey with clarity:
• Your research questions/the problem/the theme or topic you are investigating (what
you are proposing to do and to find out or to create)
• The methodology or technical approach (for projects comprising in whole or in part
the creation of an artefact) you will adopt – methods, number of participants, who
the participants (if any) will be, survey instruments used technology and equipment
employed etc.; and what questions you are planning to ask your respondents (if
applicable); how you will deal with technical challenges.
Title of project - The Response of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to COVID-19 Disruption
and the Implications for the United Kingdom (UK).
Name of researcher(s) _____________________________________Email
Name of supervisor _____________________________Date:________________________
WHERE APPROPRIATE TO YOUR CHOSEN TOPIC/RESEARCH: YES NO N/A
1 Will you describe in writing the main procedures to participants in advance, so that they
are informed about what to expect? A copy of this must be attached to this application
✓
2 Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary? ✓
3 Will you obtain written consent for participation and include within this that they have a
right to withdraw at any point? A copy of this must be attached to this application
✓
4 If the research is observational, will you ask participants for their consent to being
observed?
✓
5 With questionnaires, will you give participants the option of omitting questions they do
not want to answer?
✓
6 Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full confidentiality and that,
if published, it will not be identifiable as theirs? This should be evidenced in the consent
form and with a signed copy of UWL’s data management form, attached to this
application.
✓
7 Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give them a brief
explanation of the study)? A copy of this must be attached to this application
✓
If you have ticked No to any of Q1-7, but have ticked box A overleaf, please give an explanation on a separate
sheet.
[Note: N/A = not applicable]

YES NO N/A
8 Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any way? ✓
9 Is there any realistic risk of any participants experiencing either physical or
psychological distress or discomfort? If Yes, give details on a separate sheet and state
what you will tell them to do if they should experience any problems (e.g. who they can
contact for help).
✓
If you have ticked Yes to 8 or 9, you should normally tick box B overleaf; if not, please give a full explanation
on a separate sheet
YES NO N/A
10 Does your project involve work with animals? If yes, please tick box B overleaf. ✓
11 Do participants fall into any of the
following vulnerable groups? If they do,
please and tick box B overleaf.
Note that you may also need to obtain
satisfactory DBS clearance (or
equivalent for overseas students).
Schoolchildren (under 18 years of age) ✓
People with learning or communication
difficulties
✓
Patients ✓
People in custody ✓
People engaged in illegal activities (e.g.
drug-taking)
✓
Any other groups who could be
reasonably argued as representing any
form of vulnerability – please specify
✓
12 Will you be accessing materials which may be considered security-sensitive under the
Counter Terrorism Act (2015)?
✓
There is an obligation on the researcher to bring to the attention of the School Ethics Panel any issues
with ethical implications not clearly covered by the above checklist.
PLEASE TICK EITHER BOX A OR BOX B BELOW AND PROVIDE THE DETAILS REQUIRED IN
SUPPORT OF YOUR APPLICATION. THEN SIGN THE FORM.
Please tick
A. I consider that this project has no significant ethical implications to be brought before the School
Ethics Panel.
B. I consider that this project may have ethical implications that should be brought before the School
Ethics Panel, and/or it will be carried out with children or other vulnerable populations.
✓
I have received guidance on ethical research practices relevant to my subject as part of my preparation for this
module.

Signed ___________________________ Print Name ______________________ Date
_______________
(UG Researcher(s))
Signed ___________________________ Print Name ______________________ Date
_______________
(Supervisor)

PART 2
SPECIFICATIONS OF PROJECT
Please answer the following question:
1. Do you intend to use only secondary data in the conduct of your research?
✓ Yes ☐No
Introduction to the research
Background to research topic area (with references where applicable). 200 words approx. Include
Aims and Hypothesis, Research Question(s) of the dissertation/project.
Research aim
To investigate the responded of small and Medium size enterprises during the COVID 19
pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Research objectives
 To determine the immediate positive response of small and medium business adopted in order
to recover from COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom for ensuring business is stable.
 To identify the current decision making of small and medium business and determine the main
challenges faced by them in the UK during the COVID 19 pandemic.
 To evaluate the threats occur due to external environment of market and also determine the
potential opportunities for SMEs. Investigate about the National Schemes as well as policies
investigations for supporting and sustainability of SMEs.
Research Questions
 What are the immediate positive response of small and medium business adopted in order to
recover from COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom for ensuring business is stable?
 What are the current decision making of small and medium business and determine the main
challenges faced by them in the UK during the COVID 19 pandemic?
 What are the threats occur due to external environment of market and also determine the
potential opportunities for SMEs. Explain about the National Schemes as well as policies
investigations for supporting and sustainability of SMEs?
Method
Outline all methodological issues - e.g. Design, participants, questionnaires, tests, method of data
collection. Who are you working with? How? What Measures? What

interventions/manipulations? What controls? If your research entails exclusively the consultation
of published documents, books, articles or other work in the public domain please state this under
the heading ‘materials’.
Research design
The research design which is selected for this research project is Descriptive research as that will
help in evaluating the existing information properly. It is so because in this research investigator
is adopting secondary method.
Participants (where applicable)
Materials (to include locations and resources)
The material used by researcher are existing documents like online and offline books, articles,
journals, government documents, newspaper and many more.
Analysis
CLEARLY describe the method of analysis you are going to use. Is it qualitative or quantitative?
The researcher is adopting quantitative method of analysis.
Section B: RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
DATA MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE STATEMENT
All applicants should familiarise themselves with the Data Protection Act 1998, and adhere to its
principles in all aspects of their research:
Research data covers a broad range of types of information (see examples below), and digital data can
be structured and stored in a variety of file formats.
EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH DATA
Some examples of research data:
Documents (text, Word), spreadsheets
Laboratory notebooks, field notebooks, diaries
Questionnaires, transcripts, codebooks
Audiotapes, videotapes
Photographs, films
Test responses
Slides, artefacts, specimens, samples
Collection of digital objects acquired and generated during the process of research
Database contents (video, audio, text, images)
Models, algorithms, scripts
Contents of an application (input, output, logfiles for analysis software, simulation software, schemas)

Methodologies and workflows
Standard operating procedures and protocols
As a student or member of staff undertaking a research project, I understand that I am responsible for
the following:
 The security and confidentiality of all data collected
 Mitigating all risks to anonymity, privacy and confidentiality posed by all kinds of personal
information storage, processing, including computer and paper files, e-mail records, audio and
video files, and any information that directly identifies an individual. It is recommended that
data be anonymised at the point of collection.
I will ensure that:
 Data and codes and all identifying information will be kept in separate locked filing
cabinets/files and working files will contain no identifying information, and will only be
accessed by one or two persons
 All audiotapes will be transcribed using codes or pseudonyms for identification of individuals
and destroyed upon completion of the research project
 Access to computer files will be available by password only
 Research data will be stored for up to 5 years after the end of the project, after which they
should be disposed of safely.
Name:
Application ID:
Project title: The Response of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to COVID-19 Disruption
and the Implications for the United Kingdom (UK).