Small Business Britain will provide a great place to work for its employees
- Greater offering of flexible working
- Ongoing investment in training and development
Context
In the UK, small businesses employ 59 per cent of the private-sector workforce (Federation of Small Businesses, 2009). Responsible businesses care for and support their employees and understand that a committed and well trained staff is worth its weight in gold. For most small businesses, staff numbers are in the low single figures, but even so training and trying to accommodate flexible working where possible is still important. This provides a framework within which employees can do their job more efficiently and effectively, while also becoming more loyal and supportive of the business. Ultimately, both the employer and the employees will benefit from this more flexible one-to-one approach.
Evidence of support
The Small Business Britain Survey would not have been complete without an examination of employee relations. It specifically addressed the question of employee support and development:
- In the last 12 months 40% of all respondents have put measures in place to support employees. Of these:
- 28% have invested in staff training
- 24% have introduced flexible working
For those with employees, support and development have remained important throughout the recession. However, there is still more to be done: the fallout from the recession is forecast to last several years, and small business employees will play a vital role in helping their employers through this challenging period. Small Business Britain pledges to continue to support its members and encourage them to invest in their employees, creating a thriving business environment and ultimately, a great place to work.
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