In a second government competitiveness White Paper, Forging Ahead, published on May 22, small firms are the main beneficiaries of the £240 million programme, of which £75 million is reallocated from existing spending. £100 million will be spent on the Business Links network; by the end of the year there will be 200 centres. £40 million goes to export promotion including Export Challenge – with prizes of £50,000 being awarded to the best ten business initiatives. £70 million will go towards helping small firms with high-tech projects, some of it in the new Foresight Fund, designed to create closer contact between industry and scientists. Contact DTI on 0171 215 5000
£63 MILLION FOR SMALL FIRMS
A training programme, launched by the Department of Employment Minister, James Paice MP, on April 6, aims to help 24,000 small firms with less than fifty employees to improve their skills. The £63 million scheme, Skills for Small Businesses, trains principal employees to transfer their knowledge and skills to other colleagues. Training and Enterprise Councils manage the skills-building programme, choose the key participants and provide in-house training. Contact Department of Employment on 0171 273 6969
SKILL NEEDS FOR SMALL FIRMS
The skills gap in small firms is being bridged, according to a survey published on May 24 by the Department of Employment. The survey, Skill Needs of Small Firms in Britain 1994-1995, highlights recruitment, skills and training needs of small businesses with less than 25 employees. Among the findings were that 8% of businesses find it difficult to fill vacancies and 59% of companies offer on-the-job training. Employers are also now more aware of training initiatives such as the National Vocational Qualifications. Contact Department of Employment on 0171 276 6969
SHELL’S BUSINESS LINKS
A national awards programme and competition Business Link – Making the Difference, aims to create role models and identify case studies and so encourage greater take up of Business Links, the national network of business advice centres. A series of the Board of Trade local, regional and national awards will take place before February 1996. The closing date for regional entrants is December 1 1995. Shell UK is co-ordinating the programme nationally and managing it on a regional level, through Livewire, in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry. An executive report on the outcome of the nationwide business links will be collated, featuring the achievements of campaigns against their original targets. Contact Brian Holmes, Shell UK, on 0171 257 3185
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL FIRMS
At the launch on April 19 of a guide for small businesses, Equality Pays: How Equal Opportunities Can Benefit Your Business, the employment minister, Phillip Oppenheim MP, said that small firms can reap business benefits by implementing fair recruitment and employment policies. The guide is endorsed by The Federation of Small Businesses, The Forum of Private Business, The Association of Independent Businesses, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the EOC and the Commission for Racial Equality. Contact Employment Department on 0171 273 6969
YOUNG ENTERPRISE SURVEY
Independent research into the effectiveness of Young Enterprise’s Company programme shows an increase in the levels of personal and business skills development by the majority of students taking part. All Link Teachers and 98% of parents said it developed skills for working life. Benefits for Link Teachers and Business Advisers include improvement in mentoring skills, awareness of the education system, understanding of young people and career growth. Contact Helen Rennie, Young Enterprise, on 01865 311180
Comment
The good news is that the UK economy grew by 4% last year. The bad news is that long term trends still show Britain falling behind international competitors. That’s why Michael Heseltine is right to focus attention on competitiveness and on small businesses in particular.
Over the years large companies have put much effort into supporting the enterprise movement, through enterprise agencies and partnership sourcing policies. That effort is now shifting towards making Business Links a success.
Originally viewed as something of a Heseltine gimmick, the network is growing and starting to make sense on the ground. With the promise of extra funding, worries about long term viability, fuelled by a recently leaked DTI report, should abate – at least until it becomes apparent whether small firms are prepared to contribute towards the cost of the advice and training now being lavished upon them. And that, surely, is the real test – if small firms can’t or won’t invest in their own futures, there is little the government can do to guarantee sustained economic success.
COMMENTS