Exploring the implications of devolution for business accelerator intervention in new venture creation

Abstract

This thesis examines how business accelerators and devolved policies interact to shape the emergence of new ventures in the United Kingdom’s devolved regional contexts. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, it addresses the central research question: how do business accelerators and devolved policies interact to contribute to new venture emergence in devolved regions? In doing so, it explores whether – and how – accelerators align with regional governance structures and policy priorities to support entrepreneurial activity.
The quantitative phase uses national company registration data and a composite measure of regional policy support to examine patterns of new venture creation across devolved and non-devolved regions. Through linear mixed-effects modelling, it explores how differences in accelerator presence and policy breadth are associated with regional variation in entrepreneurial activity. The analysis identifies consistent disparities between regions – patterns that appear shaped not only by governance structures but also by the local availability and alignment of entrepreneurial support.
Building on these insights, the qualitative phase examines two contrasting cases: Wales and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. These regions offer distinct examples of how business accelerators and devolved policies interact in practice, highlighting the contextual dynamics that shape their relationship. Drawing on non-participatory observation and document analysis, the qualitative phase applies a structured coding approach informed by Gioia methodology. The analysis explores how accelerators may act as institutional intermediaries – translating devolved policy goals into regionally meaningful forms of entrepreneurial support. Mechanisms such as policy-accelerator alignment and the capacity of regional institutions emerge as important factors that influence whether new ventures are enabled or constrained.
The research contributes to theoretical understanding by integrating perspectives from institutional theory and regional innovation systems. It positions accelerators as meso-level actors – operating in the space between institutional environments and individual ventures – who support legitimacy-building through collaborative engagement. Rather than acting alone, new ventures gain credibility by working with accelerators that help interpret and channel regional policy signals. This role is especially salient in devolved contexts, where institutional expectations vary across regions. Practically, the findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and accelerator managers, highlighting the importance of tailoring support to the institutional and policy conditions of specific places.
By examining how devolution and business accelerators interact, this thesis offers a framework for understanding how such interactions may shape entrepreneurial outcomes in devolved contexts. It suggests that the effectiveness of accelerators depends not only on the resources and support they provide, but on how they engage with and adapt to local institutional conditions and policy aims.