This briefing puts forward recommendations for delivering on the theme 'building the capability for small business growth', one of seven themes set out by the Small Business Service to meet the government's target, set in the year 2000, of making Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business by 2005. The briefing argues that, while the government has placed 'enterprise' at the top of its agenda, small and medium-sized businesses continue to face major obstacles to growth and that removing these obstacles and supporting these businesses is the key to creating a high productivity, high growth economy.