When you are starting out as an entrepreneur, your dream is to grow your business into something much bigger. But once you turn this dream into reality, you should now plan on bringing new talents on board to ease pressure on your current workforce. This requires detailed planning and thorough vetting to ensure you add the right people to your time.
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We all know to recycle paper, turn off a light when we leave a room and choose to walk or take public transport over using the car wherever possible. But there’s a significant threat to the environment that nobody is talking about. E-waste, when electronic products end their ‘useful life’ and are thrown away. This is the single fastest-growing waste stream with 80% off the world’s electronic devices end up in the landfill.
[continue reading…]In a recent study commissioned by Close Brothers Asset Finance, it was found that during the SME recruitment process, older workers are discriminated against and are seen to be less desirable to fill the roles despite their experience. It was also found that SMEs understood and were aware of the number of benefits that came from hiring older workers for the business. Therefore, it was disappointing to see the results suggesting discrimination.
In the latest study conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), it was found that if small businesses were supported by bigger businesses then they could grow their business through innovative techniques. Innovation is the key to the success and the growth of the business. If innovation is fed through the supply chain, this could significantly help small businesses succeed.
The problem with the lack of diversity in the life sciences industry is more severe than people perhaps imagined according to new research conducted by the Epsen Fuller Group earlier this year. Only 12.7% and 8.3% of directorships of small to micro pharma, medical devices and bio tech companies are women. The research also shows that there’s been little progress since 2000 in decreasing racial disparities for interest and aptitude in STEM subjects.
In a recent survey conducted by the BCC (British Chamber of Commerce), it was found that one of the biggest issues that small businesses are facing is employing workers with the right skills. The small business workforce seems to lack certain skills which can hinder their chances of business growth. One of the factors that affected the confidence of small businesses during the early Brexit negotiations was the worries over the lack of skilled workers. Therefore, business owners together with the government need to create initiatives to upskill the British workforce.
With the year coming to a close, it’s time to look back and reflect, as well as looking ahead. 2017 has been a great year for small businesses which have thrived and stood strong despite uncertainty bought on by Brexit. From the Autumn Budget being small business friendly, to the huge success of Small Business Saturday, small businesses can allow themselves to be optimistic about the upcoming year.
It’s difficult for small business owners to switch off, being a business owner means a huge work load that sometimes may seem never ending. Therefore, having a work/life balance is something that small business owners only aspire to have. It has become a culture in the UK to constantly be ‘on’, hence its not surprising that the UK’s workforce is crumbling under a digital overload, because they don’t get a chance to switch off.
