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The aim of this research is to assess the role of mentoring as an approach to training and development for small‐ to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) retailers. Mentoring requires the teaming of a knowledgeable person with a learner, to enable a transfer of information, skills and expertise. Importantly it allows greater flexibility in the timing and location of learning. The research is being undertaken in the London Borough of Merton through an 18‐month project. This study forms an interim assessment and analysis of 40 retailers’ responses to the mentoring process, the types of learning needs encountered, the implementation of mentoring and their experiences and learning outcomes. It concludes by assessing the effectiveness of the initial outcomes of the project against its objectives and evaluating emerging themes in SME retail management.

Local shopping is a topic that has been neglected for many years by both retail researchers and policy makers. However, in recent years it has come on to the agenda again, mainly because a number of government policy areas – including social exclusion, regeneration and sector competitiveness – have recognised the vital community role played by small shops, and the problems of maintaining their vitality and viability. Within that context, introduces the special issue of IJRDM which presents a number of papers on the general theme of retailing for communities that were given at the CIRM Conference held in Manchester on 13 September 2002. They fall into three main groups: local shopping areas; business strategy and operations; and, learning, training and support for small retailers. The papers illustrate the diversity of research that needs to be undertaken in this area, and there are close parallels with work being undertaken in other management and social science disciplines.

Discusses the long existing and confusing problems of establishing the relationship of who is, and who if not, a dependent worker. Reflects developments which have occurred in British law as it affects the employment field, plus an evaluation and analysis of some of the different types of employment relationships which have evolved by examining, where possible, the status of each of these relationships. Concludes that the typical worker nowadays finds himself in a vulnerable position both economically and psychologically owing to the insecurity which exists.

Provides a review of the position of women in management in a number of countries. Describes how in almost all countries, management positions are dominated by men. Concludes that, although many similarities were found in women’s work experience across cultures, cultural factors accounted for the unique experiences of women in a given country.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the concept of vicarious liability has developed in recent years.

This work analyses case law decisions pertaining to vicarious liability.

The paper examines how court decisions have acted to widen considerably the application of vicarious liability in a business context.

Further research could usefully speculate on the direction the law might take in the future.

The paper reveals how vicarious liability applies in a business context and provides some pertinent learning outcomes for employers from case law development.

The analysis presented in this paper explains how an important legal concept applies in a contemporary business context.

Presents 35 abstracts from the 2001 Employment Research Unit Annual conference held at Cardiff Business School in September 2001. Attempts to explore the theme of changing politics of employment relations beyond and within the nation state, against a background of concern in the developed economies at the erosion of relatively advanced conditions of work and social welfare through increasing competition and international agitation for more effective global labour standards. Divides this concept into two areas, addressing the erosion of employment standards through processes of restructuring and examining attempts by governments, trade unions and agencies to re‐create effective systems of regulation. Gives case examples from areas such as India, Wales, London, Ireland, South Africa, Europe and Japan. Covers subjects such as the Disability Discrimination Act, minimum wage, training, contract workers and managing change.

This issue is a selected bibliography covering the subject of leadership.

Increasing numbers of women are entering Chartered Accountancy. Focuses on the Scottish perspective exploring recruitment, examination performance and career progress. No discernable gender differences were found in recruitment and early career structure, although women do perform better in the examination process. However, at senior manager and particularly partner levels differences do arise. Examines by way of a case‐study approach, interviewing all the women partners in the “big six” Scottish offices, why so few reach the top. Also analyses their personal profiles in an attempt to construct role models for women who aspire to this level. Women choose to opt out of the top, prioritizing and balancing their lifestyles in a different manner to men. The barrier is there‐fore one of choice, although some form of discrimination was mentioned by two‐thirds of the women. The observations within the six firms were also different, suggesting that varying attitudes had been experienced.

In this study the Repertory Grid interview technique was used to investigate constructs of leadership held by a group of male and female senior managers from within hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Units (SPCUs) in the UK. The themes that emerged were compared with those from existing research models of leadership. Results: men and women in these roles describe different constructs of effective leadership. The women’s constructs that emerged were predominantly transformational, whilst the men’s were predominantly transactional. Themes were also identified in this study, which differed from previous studies, i.e. those of political and environment awareness and the valuing of others’ views regardless of their status. These themes do not feature highly in other research, and may be in response to the environment within which hospice and specialist palliative care functions.

A mega‐event flagship (MEF) refers to a popular instrument developed for staging a mega‐event and catalyzing area‐based urban regeneration. Despite its lasting appeal and controversial nature, insufficient research on its critical early stage has been done to provide useful analysis. When the clients lack appropriate capabilities to confront sustainability challenges, MEFs may end up functioning poorly in the post‐event era and even hindering the progress of intended renewals. The purpose of this study is to enhance MEF clients’ capabilities in meeting sustainability challenges at the early stage and ultimately producing responsible MEFs of enduring worth.

The multiple‐case study method was adopted due to its widely recognized reliance on multiple sources to facilitate in‐depth analyses. Data were collected through archival records, documentation, direct observation and participant observation.

By proposing a comprehensive development framework based on the findings of multiple‐case studies, this paper corrects a misunderstanding of such a development being an end in itself, and contributes new insights into the definitional early stage of MEFs.

The fact that MEFs are a global phenomenon as well as a local undertaking leads to a need to develop a database of useful lessons and critical decisions from previous MEFs, to establish a best practice targets system in future research.

As an initial attempt, this paper lays the groundwork for research on MEFs by investigating how mega‐event hosts have prepared in meeting its sustainability challenges.