Employment creation and small firms: reflections on Lone Henriksen’s keynote address

Abstract

This paper reflects upon issues raised in Lone Henriksen’s keynote address at the Ninth Annual Small Business and Enterprise Development Conference (the text of which is included at the beginning of this issue of the journal). Her address provides thought‐provoking insights into the European Commission’s agenda for small firms and job creation. It is encouraging to find agreement between policy makers and academics that SMEs have an important role in generating new jobs and that a European policy is needed to provide coordination between member states while encouraging devolved responsibility through local tailored initiatives. The challenge that practitioners, policy makers and academics now face is finding the best way to help SMEs and the unemployed. Lone Henriksen’s address and the current literature provide a helpful springboard to reflect upon this challenge and to give some suggestions.