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The purpose of this paper is to understand the processes whereby social entrepreneurs can contribute to community resilience and sustainability.

The study used a qualitative case study approach with 15 island communities located off the north and west coasts of Scotland and who were engaged in the development and implementation of renewable energy initiatives.

Peripheral communities provide an environment where entrepreneurial activities can flourish. Through a model of social enterprise, they were able to develop the necessary mechanisms to increase socio-economic resilience. The study indicates the importance of social capital in this process.

External networks provide part of the framework to overcome market imperfections caused by distance and remoteness so that social entrepreneurs can develop their ability to build resilience and sustainability. More research is needed on how this framework can be utilised.

In spite of the challenges presented in remote areas, these communities have shown the ability to adapt. This is an important component of resilience building.

This paper makes a unique contribution to the knowledge base through the interconnected concepts of social entrepreneurship and social capital. It provides new empirical insights into social enterprises and describes the mechanisms that help to build resilient rural communities in the context of renewable energy endeavours.

Reports on the transition of the economy in Northwestern Russia ‐ the only part of Russia with a land border with the European Union and a land rich in natural resources ‐ from that of a command economy to that of a market‐based economy. Reports the findings of field work into the business environment and development opportunities of the area and makes recommendations as to the conditions which need to be met to ensure successful joint ventures. Puts forward the case for the need to view regional development from a “pocket” perspective and to recognize that the market economy which is developing in Russia has a unique form which gives greater emphasis to “work community”.

How often do you have fantasies in your mind? How often do you have vivid dreams of being the heroine tied to a railway track with the 01:34 express bearing down, desperately hoping that Superman will show up? Or of being James Bond with Bo Derek as your leading lady? How often have you identified with Calvin? Or even Hobbes? Did you know that apparently you can manipulate your dreams to make them more interactive? Instead of the dream events just unfolding before you, you can change the course of your activities within them — make things happen in a different way.

Normal “mixed method” approaches to research – using standard quantitative surveys supported by qualitative methods such as semi‐structured interviews, often fail to measure issues “outside of the fence”. The purpose of this paper is to consider whether the challenges of bounded rationality can, in part, be addressed by including projective techniques within the “mixed methods” approach. In particular, it discusses the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in such an approach.

The results of an international pilot study into the use of projective techniques in assisting the evaluation of policies is outlined. The study is concerned with the response of small businesses to governments' policies aimed at encouraging the adoption of ICT. This is used as the basis of a discussion of the appropriateness of using ICT in such an approach.

ICT could play an important role in the use of projective techniques – including design; improving reliability and validity; distribution; analysis and interpretation.

Much more research is needed before the appropriateness of (ICT based) projective techniques can be assessed fully.

The lessons learnt from this pilot study about the use of projective techniques as part of a “mixed methods” survey methodology was explored. In particular, the paper provides some practical suggestions as to how ICT might be used to reduce the overheads involved in implementing projective techniques.

For many people involved in traditional quantitative and qualitative research the usefulness and appropriateness of projective techniques have yet to be proven. This paper contributes some new thinking about how ICT might address some of the concerns over the suitability of projective techniques as part of a mixed methodology.

The Arts Council has joined forces with England's 12 Regional Arts Associations to publish A Policy for Theatre for Young People which seeks to build on the innovative work already provided by many companies in this field, and aims to make high‐quality theatre available and accessible to young people throughout the country.

The reader who ventures vicariously or otherwise into the murky world of spies and spying will quickly discover a semantic confusion in which the terms “espionage” and “intelligence” are used with a bewildering profusion of meanings. Basically, however, “intelligence” refers to information; thus, intelligence agencies and agents are involved in the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information for a variety of purposes. “Espionage,” on the other hand, properly refers to the collecting of usually secret information by means of clandestine techniques and methods. Espionage is only a part of the larger function of intelligence activity but the terms have become thoroughly confused in much of the literature as well as in the public mind.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on links between entrepreneurship and resilience.

The authors discuss some key themes in this emerging area of research and reflect on how the papers in the issue contribute to debates in the literature on resilience.

While the papers in the special issue make important contributions, there is still scope for more research.

This is one of the first issues of a journal devoted to investigating this topic.

An empirical survey, of 136 respondents from UK quoted companies, was conducted with regard to the likely effects of UK corporation tax reform on share buy‐backs, capital investment and financing choices. Overall, 45 per cent expected ACT abolition to lead to an increase in share buy‐backs. Logistic regression analysis links this view to corporate liquidity. The abolition of advance corporation tax is, however, unlikely to have a significant impact upon UK and overseas capital investment, bond issues, bond redemptions, share issues, finance leasing and projected dividend levels. Capital investment and financing choices are likely to be invariant to the combined effects of a reduced corporate tax rate and a quarterly collection period.

This paper examines some of the key aspects of the process of maintenance management of the built cultural heritage. It is primarily based on responses to a questionnaire from a number of maintenance managers all of whom are responsible for significant stocks of historic buildings within their portfolios. The research identifies two types of organisation; “heritage focused” and “non‐heritage focused”. It examines differences in approach between them in the following key areas: aims and objectives of the organisation, the use of external consultants and condition surveys, prioritisation and costs. The paper identifies areas for further research. It also suggests that the identification of cultural significance embodied in the fabric of historic buildings and consideration of its vulnerability should be a prerequisite for determining approaches to maintenance management.