CREATE
Creating Businesses, Creating Employers
Frontier Briefing
CREATE · CONNECT · KEEP
A Framework for a Stronger Welsh SME Economy
A connected framework for creating viable enterprises, strengthening relationships between firms and retaining or recycling the capabilities that business success creates.
The proposition
Each generation of businesses should leave a stronger foundation for the next.
The Framework Briefing brings three Frontier Reports into one argument. CREATE broadens the enterprise base and enables progression. CONNECT gives independent firms access to capability and markets. KEEP asks what remains useful after a change of ownership, a successful exit or the end of a major relationship. An SME-led approach complements inward investment rather than excluding it.
What the publication argues
01
CREATE: enable viable enterprise and commercially sensible progression.
02
CONNECT: build useful relationships, shared capabilities and wider markets.
03
KEEP: retain or recycle the people, knowledge, relationships and capital created by success.
Evidence and examples
The briefing draws together international examples and evidence discussed in the three Reports. Its proposed SME scorecard distinguishes business progression and durable capability from the volume of programme activity.
The full publication sets out the evidence, qualifications, recommendations and source references.
Citing this publication
Husain, S. (2026). CREATE · CONNECT · KEEP — A Framework for a Stronger Welsh SME Economy. Frontier Briefing, September.
Read the series
The Framework Briefing introduces the argument; the Reports examine each part in depth.
Discuss the implications for your organisation
For enquiries about this publication, speaking or advisory work, contact Frontier. You can also explore our services.