ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the regulatory context in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate, particularly the attitudes of individuals within SMEs to environmental compliance. It focuses on the discussion of the results of empirical work which explored the attitudes of management and non-management within SMEs in England and Wales to the environment and environmental compliance. As legislation in general is viewed as a burden on business, not least among SMEs, environmental response should seek to ensure compliance and so lessen, or at least stabilise, the burden. Following the confederation of British industries concern, it is relevant to question whether any distinctions can be drawn between environmental compliance compared to legislation dealing with health and safety. Most previous SME work has focused on owner-managers, and there has been a strong message that, as in large firms, managers in many small firms possess positive environmental attitudes. Environmental compliance was not perceived to be more important than health and safety compliance.
