Home > SME News > Better working practices 'would improve SMEs' competitiveness'

Better working practices 'would improve SMEs' competitiveness'

Published On 17 May 2007 at 09:05:14

If the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not adapt their recruitment and working practices they risk losing out in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

That was the opinion of Sir Digby Jones, the UK skills envoy and former director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), who was speaking at the Work Wise UK Summit.

Sir Digby spelled out a stark warning to UK SMEs, saying: "The world is changing fast, and unless businesses in this country rise to the challenges of the new global economy and adopt new working practices, they will miss out.

"Businesses need to face up to all these new challenges now, or be relegated from the top tier, thus drawing to a close Great Britain's prominence as one of the world's most progressive economies."

According to Sir Digby, SMEs must learn how to improve their staff recruitment and retention, as this will "become increasingly difficult over the coming decade, as the labour market becomes more mobile internationally".

He added: "Not only will there be improvements in productivity and competitiveness but also in the well being of staff which in turn impacts positively upon employee relations. This is not about working harder but more cleverly.

Smarter working practices will also help the environment, Sir Digby explained, as staggered travel times will reduce congestion and overcrowding on public transport.

The speech marked the beginning of Work Wise UK - a five-year initiative to encourage businesses to adopt better working practices for their staff.

 

Related SME News:

• Postal strike 'would hit SMEs hard'
  7 June 2007 at 16:23:50
  Any strike by Royal Mail staff could be disastrous for small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, a business group has warned.
• SMEs 'encouraged to focus on emerging markets'
  7 June 2007 at 08:56:14
  Business groups have welcomed the findings of the Trade & Industry Select Committee's report on UK trade and investment (UKTI).
• Government acts to protect SME workers
  6 June 2007 at 09:00:30
  The government has launched a pilot scheme to try and crack down on the bosses of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who treat their staff poorly.
• Bosses 'can say no' to flexible work requests
  30 May 2007 at 16:12:02
  The bosses at the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises should not be afraid to refuse their staff's requests for more flexible working arrangements if they believe they will harm business.
• Manchester SMEs 'oppose road pricing'
  30 May 2007 at 08:51:09
  The vast majority of small business owners in the Manchester area are opposed to the proposed road pricing scheme which could be introduced in the city.
• Paternity rules 'will harm SMEs'
  29 May 2007 at 14:36:30
  New paternity regulation will harm the productivity of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a leading industry group has warned.
• Workers 'want to quit if they can't progress'
  25 May 2007 at 09:02:52
  The bosses of the nation's small and medium-sized enterprises need to do more to make sure their staff benefit from day-to-day training opportunities, industry experts have claimed.