Small business

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT 
Public policy has traditionally considered this to be a key target area. The aim is to identify and
encapsulate ‘best practice’ in provision of services to SMEs including programmes for information,
counselling, education and training, finance, and special services such as incubation, usually with the help
of manuals and guides. Much of the delivery can take place through properly organised regional, local and
specialised agencies of the kind discussed in Chapter 5. A checklist for identifying the priorities and
potential for SME policy can be found in Annex 9.