Clearview South October 2013 - Issue 143 | Page 79
BUSINESSNEWS
USE TOP FEMALE TALENT OR LOSE IT
As the green shoots of economic recovery emerge, new CIPD research
shows how urgent action needs to be taken by the corporate world to stem
the leaking talent pipeline that could hinder the progress of growth.
Building on the messages in
a report from the Women’s
Business Council published in
June, it is clear that if business
does not adopt flexible or
innovative working practices, it
will continue to lose impressive
women who decide to set up
their own businesses to achieve
a better work-life balance.
‘Inspiring Female
Entrepreneurs,’ the second report
in a three part series by the CIPD
on entrepreneurial practices,
highlights that there are more
than 2.4 million unemployed
women who want to work and
that if there were as many female
entrepreneurs as there are male
entrepreneurs, GDP could
be boosted by 10% by 2030.
Employers could have much to
gain by creating the conditions
in which these talented and
committed women could thrive
in the corporate world.
Dianah Worman OBE, Public
Policy Adviser at CIPD, said:
“Employers need to act out of
self-interest to broaden the pools
of talent available to them and
ensure they do not lose out on the
skills, energy and passion women
can bring to their workplaces if
they were allowed to work more
autonomously and flexibly.
Source: Inspiring Female
Entreprneurs, www.cipd.co.uk
Proud to be a part of the UK’s
most enterprising town
As the industry’s leading
systems supplier, The VEKA
UK Group is understandably
very proud to shout about its
home and heritage; especially as
the North Lancashire town of
Burnley was recently voted the
‘Most Enterprising Area in the
UK’ in 2013.
The accolade, awarded through
the Government Department
for Business, Innovation and
Skills, recognises and celebrates
the range of business, enterprise
and economic development
work that has reshaped Burnley’s
reputation.
The VEKA UK Group is the
area’s largest employer, and no
stranger to being at the forefront
of enterprising in its local town.
Sales and Marketing Director
Colin Torley explains: “As a
founding member of the Burnley
Bondholders scheme, which
submitted the entry for this year’s
awards, The VEKA UK Group
has always promoted Burnley as a
place for business.
“We have been a huge part
of Lancashire’s manufacturing
heritage for 27 years, and during
2011, following the acquisition
of the £58M Bowater Building
Projects, we helped Burnley
become home to the UK’s largest
systems manufacturer. Burnley’s
win for Most Enterprising
Area in the UK is a fantastic
accolade and we are unequivocally
proud of our town for being
recognised for that.”
The VEKA UK Group, 01282
716611, www.vekauk.com,
[email protected]
UK SMALL BUSINESSES ANTICIPATE
RETURN TO GROWTH
The latest “Owner Managed Business Barometer” research report
from Bank of Cyprus UK has found increasing levels of optimism
amongst Owner Managed Businesses (OMBs) about their medium
term growth prospects.
The research, which questioned over 500 business decision makers
with ownership or part ownership of a business with fewer than 50
employees, revealed that nearly two fifths of respondents (38%) expect
to see a growth in sales/revenue over the next three months, compared
to a third (31%) of businesses surveyed in Q1. Nearly half of all
respondents (49%) expected to see growth over the next year.
The survey also asked businesses how they had managed to survive
the recession so far. The majority of respondents (53%) indicated that
looking after their existing customers has been a key tactic in their
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com
survival, with one fifth (18%) revealing they had changed their business
focus in order to remain competitive.
The research also reveals that whilst a lack of confidence in the
economy continues to be the main barrier to growth for nearly half of
businesses (48%), one in five respondents (20%) perceive no real barrier
to their ability to grow their business over the next 12 months.
Tony Leahy, at Bank of Cyprus UK commented: “The fortunes of
sole traders or owner-managed businesses are heavily influenced by
what happens in their local economy, so it is not surprising that a
focus on customer retention (rather than growth) has been key to their
survival.”
www.bankofcyprus.co.uk
OCT 2013
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