Policies which advise councils to support their smaller businesses need a rethink, according to a study by Aston Business School. The study found it was large local firms, rather than small start-up companies, which were the biggest drivers of economic growth, but they were, too often, ignored by councils. Companies with more than 200 employees were the biggest investors in the city – but that was not reflected in the way council support was targeted. The report said: ‘Investment in large, domestic firms in the region will have the biggest impact on both productivity and employment.'