Challenges and Support for Micro Businesses in Birmingham

This report investigates the challenges faced by micro-businesses in Birmingham, emphasizing their role in the local economy and the job opportunities they create. It explores the background of micro-businesses in Birmingham, highlighting their importance and the risks taken by owners. The research aims to identify the challenges faced by these businesses, including financial constraints, communication issues, and difficulties in attracting skilled labor. The literature review compares micro-businesses to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Birmingham, analyzing the challenges and potential solutions. The methodology section outlines the research approach, including the use of positivism, primary data collection through questionnaires, probabilistic sampling, and content analysis. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of overcoming these challenges to ensure the continued growth and success of micro-businesses in Birmingham.

Research Topics

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background to the project...........................................................................................................1
Rationale of research...................................................................................................................1
Research aim...............................................................................................................................2
Research objectives.....................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................2
Role of Micro business as comparison to small and medium in Birmingham............................2
Several challenges faced by Micro Business in Birmingham.....................................................2
Ways by which Micro business can easily overcome from challenges faced by them in
Birmingham.................................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

Title: Investigate the challenges faced by Micro Business in Birmingham: A focus on
improving support for Micro Business.
INTRODUCTION
Micro business play a crucial role in improving economic condition of nation as it
generate various job opportunities for local people with the aim of improving their living
standard. In this regards, Birmingham is a famous place where micro business are growing
continuously. It generate thousands of new jobs and development opportunities that directly put
positive impact over the economic conditions. As owner of micro business take more risk with
the aim of converting it into larger profitability (Kambwale and Chisoro, 2015). One of the main
advantage of micro business is that it provide huge innovation that help in inviting number of
people over its offerings. Mainly, micro business provide care and support as they are very small
organisation in nature (Vickers and Lyon, 2014). It also provide high quality of public services at
a human scale and at the same time also avoiding large scale care provision. Apart from this,
micro business in Birmingham also face various challenges that put negative impact over its
growth and success.
Background to the project
SMEs are the backbone of UK economy as number of micro business are operate in UK
with the aim of attaining success (Flynn and Davis, 2017). In this regards, Birmingham is a right
place for starting a new business as it is key lifestyle indicators that help in improving living
standard of local people by providing them various job opportunities. In UK, Birmingham is the
top poll as it closely followed by Glasgow. In context of this, there are some prime spot for
business to start their new and micro business like population of Birmingham as around 1141400
people lives. Along with this, it has the highest percentage age of people who are under 20 of any
core city. Crime rate is very low in Birmingham it is safe or an unsafe city. According to police
statistics they said that in the year ending December 2018, the crime rate was lower than average
as compared with similar area like Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester.
Rationale of research
Current proposal is based on investigating the challenges faced by Micro business in
Birmingham. This study provide vast information about the research topic through which
researcher can easily improve their skills and knowledge towards the selected theme (Storey,
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2016). The main reason behind undertaking this study is to analysis the importance as well as
role of micro business in improving its growth in Birmingham. With he help of this, researcher
easily analysis the actual impact of micro business over the UK economy. It help them in making
whole research more reliable and successful as well. The main focus of this study to improving
support of Micro business in development of economic country.
Research aim
“To investigate the challenges faced by Micro business in Birmingham”. A study on
Quest Micro Technology Ltd.
Research objectives
 To identify the role of Micro business as comparison to small and medium in
Birmingham.
 To determine the several challenges faced by Micro Business in Birmingham.
 To evaluate the ways by which Micro business can easily overcome from challenges
faced by them in Birmingham.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Role of Micro business as comparison to small and medium in Birmingham
According to Paul, J., Parthasarathy and Gupta, (2017), Micro business are the company
that operate their business at lower level as it employs a small number of people. A micro
business normally operated will less than 10 employees and at the same time also started along
with small amount of capital. It play a crucial role in Birmingham as it develop various growth
opportunities to local people with the aim of improving their living standard. In addition of this,
micro business are the lifeblood of the community as it has significant number of local job
creation and innovation as well that support in improving as well as developing economic
growth. Birmingham is a best place for micro business because as it provide path to operate their
business with the aim of establishing its positive image (Touboulic and Walker, 2015). It also put
their positive impact in generating revenue that support in making economic condition strong.
Several challenges faced by Micro Business in Birmingham
According to Soundararajan, Jamali and Spence, (2018), Micro business are operate their
operational activities at lower level along with limited amount of capital. This is the reason that
Micro business are face various challenges at the time of executing their business activities in
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Birmingham. Starting a new business is never be so easy as it includes huge challenges and risk
factors that can be negatively impact over company and its overall performance as well.
 Money meters: One of the main challenge faced by micro business in Birmingham is lack
of monitory terms as enough fund is required by company operate their business
successfully at Birmingham. Without money, company can not able to run their
operations at market place.
 Communication issues: Advancement technology involved better communication in
various ways. In this regards, some issues of communication are arise or unsolved that
put huge impact over the performance level of micro company. Mainly, it includes lack
of communication with stakeholders, disconnected employees and many more. All these
are affect the operational activities of company in Birmingham.
Human capital: Micro business face issue related with human capital as they fail in inviting
skilled and talented workers within the company as they do not have proper resources for hire
skilled personnel for specific job role (Al‐Dajani and et. Al., 2015). It become a major challenge
in-front of micro business in Birmingham.
Ways by which Micro business can easily overcome from challenges faced by them in
Birmingham
According to Gross, Carson and Jones, (2014), It is crucial for micro business
organisation to overcome from the challenges as it help them in improving their positive
performance at market place at the same time also improve its positive brand image. When micro
business perform their activities then they have to analysis market trends and economic condition
as well. With the assistance of this, firm can easily established its competitive image and attain
success at market place. In this regards, there are some effective ways by company can easily
overcome from the challenges.
 Hiring and retaining the right staff: It is important for business organisation to hire
talented people so that they can put their best efforts for performing their task activities. It
also support in reducing the chances of arising any kind of issues at the time of executing
allotted task. Skilled and talented employees support in attaining competitive success.
 Using the right technologies: For overcoming from challenges, micro business needs to
use new and advanced technologies so that they can offer best quality products to its
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customers. This can be beneficial in generating larger profitability from its competitors
and at the same time also established its competitive image in market place.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This section play a crucial role in entire research activities as it help investigator in
undertaking study in an effective manner. Mainly, it is an effective procedure that used by
researcher to collect relevant data and information that support in attaining positive and reliable
results at the end of the research (Scott and et. al., 2014). It includes various methods or
techniques that directly contributes in making whole research more effective and reliable as well.
Research philosophy: It is refers to the belief related with the way in which data towards
the research topic should be gathered, analysed and used. With the help of this, investigator
gather relevant data and information with the aim of taking right and appropriate decision at the
end of the research. It is classified on the basis of two philosophies such as interpretivism and
positivism. In this positivism is refers to the view in which data is gained through observation
that includes measurement and trustworthy (Flick, 2015). As the role of researcher is limited to
collect data and at the same time also interpretation in an objectives and effective manner. On the
other side, interpretivism research philosophy is based on the elements of the study that
integrates human interest on the basis of the study. For undertaking this study, researcher will
use positivism as it provide scientific quantitative methods that assist in attaining reliable results
within the investigation to draw a valid conclusion.
Primary data: This type of data is an effective way of collecting data from first hand
sources. As it is never used before by other person. Mainly, it includes various methods such as
interview, questionnaire, survey, observation and many more. All these are help investigator to
gain a better understanding about the particular issues. Along with this, it also provide reliable
and accurate information by which researcher easily draw a valid conclusion within the research
(Chapman and et. al., 2015). For undertaking research, investigator will prepare a questionnaire
that consist various close-ended questions asked from different respondents in order to
understand their view point towards the research topic and area as well.
Sampling: It is consider as an effective process of selecting sample size from larger
number of population with the aim of collecting relevant data and information about the
particular research topic. Mainly, it is classified on the basis of two methods such as probabilistic
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and non- probabilistic. Both are effective for collecting data through selected sample size. For
undertaking this study, researcher will use probabilistic sampling technique to select suitable
sample size in which all the respondents get equal chances to be selected (Jamshed, 2014). By
using this methods, researcher will select 40 respondents as per random basis.
Data analysis: It is important for investigator to analysis all the collected data so that
they can easily make positive decision (Baines and Lightfoot, 2014). In this regards, it is
consider as an effective process of cleansing, transforming and modelling data that help
investigator to discovering necessary information. With the help of this, researcher can easily
analysis data and attain accurate outcomes. In this regards, there are some methods of analysing
data such as coding, content analysis, thematic and many more. Under this research, investigator
will use content analysis as it help researcher to analysing collected data in an effective way. By
using this researcher will easily take right decision and at the same time also draw a valid and
reliable results at the end of the study in order to make it more successful and reliable.
Reliability and validity: In research project both reliability and validity is important
aspect that help in evaluating the research quality more effective. Mainly, it support in measuring
authenticity of the collected information. Thus, it is important for investigator to ensure that data
and information is valid and reliable in nature (Choy, 2014). For this, investigator prepare a
questionnaire through which reliable and valid information can be easily gathered and make a
successful investigation.
Research design: It is consider as an effective framework of research method that used
by investigator with the aim of determining the particular issues and problem in an effective
manner. Mainly, it also define a blueprint for collecting, measuring and analysing data in
systematic manner. It is classified on the basis of different types such as descriptive, explanatory
and experimental research design (Thollander and et. al., 2015). For undertaking this
investigator, researcher will use descriptive research design as it is based on measuring
information without manipulating variables. It is related with scientific method that consist
observing as well as describing the overall behaviour of particular subject without influencing
any kind of variables.
Gantt chart
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
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enterprise failures in Windhoek, Namibia. Arabian Journal of Business and
Management Review (OMAN Chapter). 4(7). p.80.
Storey, D. J., 2016. Understanding the small business sector. Routledge.
Paul, J., Parthasarathy, S. and Gupta, P., 2017. Exporting challenges of SMEs: A review and
future research agenda. Journal of world business. 52(3). pp.327-342.
Soundararajan, V., Jamali, D. and Spence, L. J., 2018. Small business social responsibility: A
critical multilevel review, synthesis and research agenda. International Journal of
Management Reviews. 20(4). pp.934-956.
Gross, N., Carson, D. and Jones, R., 2014. Beyond rhetoric: Re-thinking entrepreneurial
marketing from a practice perspective. Journal of Research in Marketing and
Entrepreneurship.
Scott, J. M. and et. al., 2014. The role of guanxi networks in the performance of women-led
firms in China. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. 6(1). pp.68-82.
Chapman, L. and et. al., 2015. The Birmingham urban climate laboratory: an open
meteorological test bed and challenges of the smart city. Bulletin of the American
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Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Thollander, P. and et. al., 2015. International study on energy end-use data among industrial
SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and energy end-use efficiency
improvement opportunities. Journal of Cleaner Production. 104. pp.282-296.
Wedawatta, G., Ingirige, B. and Proverbs, D., 2014. Small businesses and flood impacts: the
case of the 2009 flood event in C ockermouth. Journal of Flood Risk Management. 7(1).
pp.42-53.
Gray, D. and Jones, K.F., 2016. Using organisational development and learning methods to
develop resilience for sustainable futures with SMEs and micro businesses. Journal of
Small Business and Enterprise Development.
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Vickers, I. and Lyon, F., 2014. Beyond green niches? Growth strategies of environmentally-
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Flynn, A. and Davis, P., 2017. Investigating the effect of tendering capabilities on SME activity
and performance in public contract competitions. International Small Business
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Al‐Dajani, H., Carter, S., Shaw, E. and Marlow, S., 2015. Entrepreneurship among the displaced
and dispossessed: Exploring the limits of emancipatory entrepreneuring. British Journal
of Management. 26(4). pp.713-730.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Jamshed, S., 2014. Qualitative research method-interviewing and observation. Journal of basic
and clinical pharmacy. 5(4). p.87.
Choy, L. T., 2014. The strengths and weaknesses of research methodology: Comparison and
complimentary between qualitative and quantitative approaches. IOSR Journal of
Humanities and Social Science. 19(4). pp.99-104.
Fletcher, A. J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International journal of social research methodology. 20(2). pp.181-194.
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