ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with entrepreneurship and small business development in Devon & Cornwall, focusing particularly on policy related issues. It assesses the nature and extent of entrepreneurship in rural areas in the sub-region and considers how entrepreneurship is contributing to its rural development needs. The chapter aims to identify the needs of entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, which policy might help to address and also assesses the adequacy of existing policy approaches. There is a suggestion of some change in the profile of entrepreneurs over time, with more educationally qualified people increasing their propensity towards business ownership. Businesses owned by portfolio entrepreneurs were more likely to have products/services judged to be innovative by national and global market standards than firms owned by entrepreneurs with single business interests, and also more likely to have developed new markets during the two years prior to the interviews.
