Only 32% of SME businesses have sought external advice or information on matters affecting their business in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 5% of SME businesses had significantly increased growth plans for the coming 12 months.
Source: BIS

Of the SME businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 28% needed help with their business strategy.
Source: BIS

70% of businesses questioned didn’t seek advice o key issues because they felt it was too expensive.
Source: BIS

61% of business owners didn’t know where to go for business support and advice.
Source: BIS

49% of start-up businesses will cease trading within 5 years.
Source: BIS

42% of SME businesses view cash-flow as being an obstacle to the success of their business.
Source: BIS

38% of SME businesses sought finance to support working capital and cash-flow.
Source: BIS

Only 28% of SME businesses increased their annual turnover in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 41% of SME businesses anticipated a profit / surplus increase when compared with the previous 12 months results.
Source: BIS

Small Business demand for external finance is at the highest level seen since December 2007.
Source: BIS

8% of SME businesses anticipated closure or a transfer of ownership in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 39% of SME’s were ‘very confident’ of success when applying for finance.
Source: BIS

Of the SME businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 51% needed help with their key financial issues.
Source: BIS

Only 11% of SME businesses are planning to move premises in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Only 34% of SME businesses reported any new or significantly improved processes in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Just over 50% of SME businesses delivered new or significantly improved products or services in the last year.
Source: BIS

76% of failed businesses suffered from either weak financial management or weak marketing capabilities.
Source: BIS

Businesses with fewer than 20 employees have only a 37% chance of surviving four years and only a 9% chance of surviving 10 years.
Source: BIS

Over 25% of owners feel their marriage or personal partnership have been adversely damaged by their business and are left too tired for sex. Source: BIS

Only 35% of SME businesses felt they have a ‘very good’ relationship with their bank.
Source: BIS

62% of business owners didn’t feel they could trust the business advice that was currently on offer.
Source: BIS

48% of owners didn’t feel that the right type of advice existed currently for their business.
Source: BIS

Only 16% of businesses had used some form of business mentor in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

87% of consumers believe that SME businesses are a critical element of the overall economic health.
Source: BIS

48% of SME owners say what they need most to stay afloat through the recession is more customers.
Source: BIS

Of the small businesses that sought advice in the last 12 months, 23% needed help with their marketing and advertising.
Source: BIS

Only 39% of SME businesses have recruited new employees in the last 12 months.
Source: BIS

Just 30% of SME businesses are planning to recruit any new staff in the coming year.
Source: BIS

14% of SME businesses feel they will need to lose staff in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 40% of SME businesses plan to undertake any staff training in the next 12 months.
Source: BIS

Less than 40% of SME businesses invested in training to develop Leadership and Management skills.
Source: BIS

Over 40% of SME businesses have no idea how much their recruitment and selection costs.
Source: BIS

80% of business owners admitted to having a problem in successfully balancing the competing demands of work and home.
Source: BIS

Every business owner deserves the right to learn how to increase sales, multiply their profits with our help you can!
Source: BIS

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Skills Development

National Apprenticeship Service

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of Apprenticeships throughout England. They are responsible for increasing the number of Apprenticeship opportunities and providing a dedicated, responsive service for both employers and learners. This includes simplifying the process of recruiting an apprentice through Apprenticeship vacancies, an online system where employers can advertise their Apprenticeship job vacancies and potential apprentices can apply.

UKCES

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills is a Non-Departmental Public Body providing strategic leadership on skills and employment issues in the four nations of the UK. Their Commissioners comprise a social partnership that includes CEOs of large and small employers across a wide range of sectors; trade unions and representatives from the Devolved Administrations. UKCES’ mission is to work with and through partners to secure a greater commitment to invest in the skills of people to drive, enterprise, jobs and growth.

ACAS

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. They help with employment relations by supplying up-to-date information, independent advice and high quality training, and working with employers and employees to solve problems and improve performance.

CIPD

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the world's largest Chartered HR and development professional body. As an internationally recognised brand with over 135,000 members across 120 countries, they pride themselves on supporting and developing those responsible for the management and development of people within organisations.

Manage-able

Manage-Able™ is a self-management programme developed by Peter Matuszowicz -  Dare you think about it?

Skills Development Scotland

At Skills Development Scotland, it's our job to support you as you make decisions about learning and your personal development.Whether you're making choices about the types of education available, managing your skills or facing new capability challenges, we have the expertise to help you make well-informed decisions.

City and Guilds Centre for Skills Development

We develop vocational qualifications across a variety of sectors that meet the needs of today’s workplace, and help individuals develop their talents and abilities for future career progression. Our qualifications are delivered in more than 10,000 training centres across the world and are widely recognised and respected by employers.

British Chambers of Commerce Training and Skills

The Chamber Skills Network – part of the BCC Network – is one of the largest providers of both Government-funded and commercial Skills Development Services to UK businesses. Every year, the Chamber Skills Network trains well in excess of 200,000 individuals, has more than 18,000 learners on work-based learning programmes and delivers more than 6,000 training courses nationwide.

ITEC

ITEC has been awarding high quality and respected industry qualifications since 1947. It is now one of the world's leading and most successful awarding bodies specialising in Beauty and Complementary Therapy, Sport, Fitness and Hairdressing sectors.