Understanding SME Leadership, Management and Productivity
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and City REDI are undertaking a study to understand the factors shaping business leadership, management capability, productivity, and performance among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
Background
Small businesses are operating in a period of rapid technological change, shifting markets, and economic uncertainty. To design effective business support, we need to understand the real challenges and opportunities facing firms on the ground.
Our study focuses on three core questions:
- What strategic decisions do SMEs need to make to navigate rapid technological change and economic turbulence?
We are exploring how firms approach digital adoption, skills development, market diversification, innovation, and investment planning.
2. How do small firms build their leadership and management capability?
We want to understand what helps business owners and managers develop the skills, confidence, and strategic mindset needed to grow and adapt.
3. How can the regional business support ecosystem help?
We are examining the role of local authorities, accelerators, finance providers, Growth Hubs, universities, further education colleges and sector networks in supporting SME capability and productivity.
Timescales: 15 October 2025- 31 July 2026
Objectives
Objectives
This project aims to identify factors affecting business leadership and management capabilities, productivity and performance in SMEs within the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area.
Key objective is to enhance regional business support activities to help boost SME performance and regional economic growth.
- Based on survey analysis and semi-structured interviews with SMEs, we will map patterns in leadership and management capabilities, business support received, and achieved outcomes based on SME characteristics across different Local Authorities in the West Midlands.
- We will talk to key actors in the Regional business support ecosystem including Business Advisors and Skills and training providers. By engaging with Business Advisors across multiple Local Authorities and relevant intermediary organisations, we will ensure the findings of the project will inform relevant policy communities and practitioners.
- Insights and findings from the project will inform future policy, business support and training practice regarding SME leadership and management capabilities and growth.
The Team
The Team
Prof Fumi Kitagawa,
Dr Kostas Kollydas
Dr Huanjia Ma
Dr Juliane Schwarz
In collaboration with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
Dan Carins
Dr Phillip Nelson
Project lead contact details:
Project Support contact details:
Events
Events
Understanding SME leadership, management and productivity in the West Midlands
The researchers are looking for SME owners and managers who are willing to participate in confidential online interviews (maximum duration 45 minutes) in February 2026.