2Purpose -This paper uses univariate statistical analysis to investigate barriers to raising bank finance faced by UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), specifically the impact of personal characteristics (ethnicity, gender and education).Design/methodology/approach -We developed a conceptual model and analysed the results of a telephone survey of 400 SMEs conducted (before the "credit crunch") by the Barclays Bank small business research team on our behalf. The survey was based on a large stratified random sample drawn from the Bank"s entire SME population.Findings -We found that education made little difference to sources of finance, except that those educated to A-level more frequently used friends and family and remortgaged their homes. However, graduates had the least difficulties raising finance. Though statistically insignificant, women respondents found it easier to raise finance than men.The survey confirmed that -and this finding was statistically significant -ethnic minority businesses, particularly black owner-managers, had the greatest problem raising finance and hence relied upon "bootstrapping" as a financing strategy.Research limitations/implications -The study makes an important contribution to filling a research gap, given the critical need of policy-makers to understand differentials between different types of owner-managers. It brings new insights into its field -access to finance -and with respect, especially, to marginalised groups.Originality/value -The paper adopts a different approach than many prior studies, with a large sample and robust analysis, to explore a critical need-to-know area in a new wayboth for policy-makers and academics in the field of SME finance.

Purpose: We conduct a critical appraisal of how experiential approaches can more effectively enhance the achievement of desired learning outcomes in entrepreneurship education. In particular, we critique whether actual learning outcomes can be profitably used to measure effectiveness; and consider how student performance can be evaluated through the twin lenses of implementation or innovation.Design/methodology/approach: We undertook a review of both traditional and experiential approaches to entrepreneurship education. In addition to comparing these approaches, we critiqued a number of 'taken for granted' assumptions regarding the effectiveness of experiential approaches to entrepreneurship education and made recommendations. Findings:Although there is a large body of research on experiential approaches towards entrepreneurship education, we know little about how these approaches contribute towards the effective achievement of desired learning outcomes. Whilst many authors claim that such approaches are effective, such assertions are not supported by sufficient robust evidence. Hence we need to establish more effective student performance evaluation metrics. In particular whether: (1) actual learning outcomes are appropriate measures of effectiveness; and (2) we should evaluate student performance through the lenses of the two 'Is' -implementation or innovation. Practical implications:Whether actual learning outcomes are used as a measure of effectiveness at all needs to be critiqued further. Implementation involves doing things that are determined by others and matching against their expectations, whereas innovation comprises producing multiple and varied solutions that respond to change and often surprise. Originality/value: Through revisiting the discussions on the art and the science of entrepreneurship education, this article represents an initial critical attempt -as part of an ongoing study -to fill a gap in entrepreneurship education research. The article, therefore, has significant value for students, entrepreneurship educators, and policy-makers.

Abstract. This paper investigates the influence of gender, ethnicity and education in the use of external advice and finance by UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A conceptual model of "discouraged advisees" was developed as a framework for analysis of the results of a telephone survey of 400 SMEs. We found an association between the use of external advice and the ability to raise bank finance. Furthermore, both men and black and minority ethnic (BME) participants were more likely to use family and friends for advice, whilst women were twice as likely as men to use Business Link. BME business owners were discouraged from using less "trusted" sources, such as Business Link, possibly believing them insufficiently tailored or that they would provide inappropriate advice. Therefore, the findings provide support for our conceptual model of discouraged advisees and have implications for the provision of advice for business owners from BME communities.

This paper analyses the impact that financial constraints have on women"s entrepreneurial choice. The empirical analysis is based on the data provided by the Household Survey of Entrepreneurship database that surveys individuals" intentions of becoming self-employed in England, UK. We do find evidence that women are less likely to seek external finance for business start-ups. This suggests that women in the general population perceive stronger financial barriers to business start-up than men, and this may be discouraging them from seeking external financial support. We find no evidence, however, that once women do seek finance for start-ups they are any less likely to obtain it than men.

The paper explores the impact of financial exclusion on financial and human poverty amongst women in Pakistan. The findings suggest that persistent financial exclusion, gender discrimination and conservative religious values adversely impact women's empowerment. There is an inverse correlation between the size of microcredit and women's financial poverty, which is not the case for human poverty. Larger families experienced higher rates of poverty reduction than smaller families. The study offers evidence and supports theories on the impact of microcredit upon poverty alleviation. These findings inform policy makers, women entrepreneurs and microfinance institutions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.