Catalysts of prosperity : how networking support and training programmes drive growth aspirations in Saudi Arabia's micro and small enterprises

The positive role played by micro and small enterprises in developing the economy and providing job opportunities requires further care and support to ensure maximum benefits from them. In this vein, this research attempts to understand how networking support (NS), training programmes (TPs), and entrepreneurial intention (EI) interact on one end and how EI and growth aspirations (GAs) interact together on the other. It also investigates the direct influence of NS and TPs on GAs and assesses whether EI can mediate the connection between NS, TPs, and GAs. Data collected from micro and small entrepreneurs operating in different places in Saudi Arabia through a self-administered questionnaire are analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and the testing of hypotheses. The findings confirm a positive and significant relationship between TPs and EI, while there is no relationship between NS and EI. Further, TPs and NS have a positive and significant direct connection with GAs. The results also reveal that EI can mediate the relationship between TPs and GAs but not the relationship between NS and GAs. The study concludes by providing the practical and theoretical implications of these findings and offering recommendations for policymakers and entrepreneurs.