Boosting Growth: Designing SME Support Services in Scotland for Impact

TY - GEN

T1 - Boosting Growth

T2 - 25th dmi: Academic Design Management Conference

AU - Sier, Elsa

AU - Bruce, F-S

AU - Hawari-Latter, Sharifa

AU - Aitchison, Iain

AU - Geddes, Iona

N1 - Conference code: 25

PY - 2026/8/18

Y1 - 2026/8/18

N2 - ncreasing market pressures and organisational complexity can pose significant challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during the scale-up phase. While many SMEs seek support from external service providers, evidence suggests that provision is either generic, costly or closer aligned with government agendas than with the needs of the individual organisation. This paper reflects on a recent exploratory study of a scale-up support programme for Scottish SMEs, as part of a strategic initiative to address barriers to SME growth using design-led innovation approaches. It begins by reviewing the findings from a previous study that explored existing scale-up support from the perspective of external service providers across Scotland. It then goes onto discuss results from an online survey and focused interviews with SMEs across diverse industry sectors to understand how SMEs engage with existing external business support structures and perceived challenges and barriers to the implementation of the scaling process as well as their preference to engagement and communication models in the change management process. The paper concludes with a discussion of these findings and outlines future frameworks that incorporate design principles to create tailored offerings that align more closely with the scaling needs of an SME.

AB - ncreasing market pressures and organisational complexity can pose significant challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during the scale-up phase. While many SMEs seek support from external service providers, evidence suggests that provision is either generic, costly or closer aligned with government agendas than with the needs of the individual organisation. This paper reflects on a recent exploratory study of a scale-up support programme for Scottish SMEs, as part of a strategic initiative to address barriers to SME growth using design-led innovation approaches. It begins by reviewing the findings from a previous study that explored existing scale-up support from the perspective of external service providers across Scotland. It then goes onto discuss results from an online survey and focused interviews with SMEs across diverse industry sectors to understand how SMEs engage with existing external business support structures and perceived challenges and barriers to the implementation of the scaling process as well as their preference to engagement and communication models in the change management process. The paper concludes with a discussion of these findings and outlines future frameworks that incorporate design principles to create tailored offerings that align more closely with the scaling needs of an SME.

KW - Scaling

KW - Design-led Innovation

KW - Business Support

KW - Design-driven Change Management

KW - SMEs

UR - https://www.dmi.org/page/admc2026proceedings

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Academic Design Management Conference Proceedings

BT - The 25th dmi

PB - Design Management Institute

Y2 - 11 August 2026 through 12 August 2026

ER -