Dissertation.SME

Research Title
Expansion barriers faced by the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK: A case study of CAD SERVE LTD

Abstract
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are one of the principal driving forces in economic development. This sector has been recognized as growth engine around the globe. A healthy and vibrant SME sector contributes in a high and sustainable economic growth. The UK SMEs contribute around 33% of the total GDP. They provide employment opportunities to more than 50% of the total employment in the UK. They contribute to 37% of private sector turnover. The SMEs in the UK as in the other developed and the developing nations are a strong support for the overall growth of the economy, creating more and more employment opportunities year after year. However, the businesses in the UK have been facing a number of obstacles that hinder their growth and performance of the businesses. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the British Chamber of Commerce have assessed the business members with regards to the common problems faced by SMEs in the UK. However, there are several problems facing by the business sector in UK at present. According to Barkema et al., (1996), an important issue regarding the exporting is export barriers. Leonidou, (2004) defined export barriers as those for which a business organization cannot start a new business or expand existing business in a new environment in a foreign country. Leonidou, (1995a) stated that to investigate the issue regarding export barrier, many researchers have been done. Based on all of these studies, export barriers are of two major types’ namely internal barriers and external barriers. Leonidou (2004) concluded that organizations’ internal conditions which hinder to export are known as internal barriers.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the Barriers faced by the Small and Medium Enterprise in the UK when they try to expand their business overseas. This study was

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