100
NeedTOKnow
ESSENTIAL UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FOR FRANCHISES AND SMEs
TRAIN YOUR WAY INTO PROFIT
Online sales up
��BRITAIN’S EMPLOYERS are being urged to ‘make’ ���WHILE HIGH Street retailing is
better employees so that staff can contribute more to experiencing dif cult times, online sales
business pro tability. Research from the Cran eld School are demonstrating remarkable resilience.
of Management shows that it is cheaper and more Separate studies by IMRG and Capgemini
effective to ‘grow your own’ employees than persistently indicate that 2008 saw a 15% increase
shop around for new skills. Cran eld’s Nurturing Talent in Internet purchases as the public spent
Report canvassed the views of 1189 training and more time searching for bargains. Both
recruitment decision-makers and found that over three- reports suggest that businesses are
quarters of companies would prefer to develop talent responding to an increasingly discerning
internally than recruit externally. customer and that delivery reliability
Small and medium-sized  rms in particular regarded this
problems have largely been overcome
as both a cost saving initially and as a signi cant addition
using dedicated service level contracts
to the bottom line in the long term. Most companies
with couriers. With this in mind, many
recorded improved staff motivation and retention. The
programme of nurturing staff not only applies to learning
companies will be putting more money
new skills but also to coaching, peer mentoring, job
into their Internet presence making 2009 a
enrichment to stretch employees and working alongside
bumper year for online retailing.
colleagues in other departments.
BUSINESS AND
EDUCATION IN
PARTNERSHIP
��BUSINESSES AND
education authorities
should work together
so that Britain can
maintain its competitive
Spouse Power
edge according to the
Confederation of British FLEXIBLE WORKING
Industry. The employer’s
��THE PARTNERS of business owners are working 230 lobby group wants
IS WORKING
million unpaid hours every month suggests a survey universities to tap into ��DESPITE THE initial reservations  exible
from Bibby Financial Services. ‘Spouse Power’ is helping the £33 billion spent working practices improve the work/life
many SMEs to remain pro table with some 68% of on training each year balance of staff and have reduced stress
partners regularly and for businesses to suggests a survey conduced by  eet
contributing in some access the wealth of management company Lex. 76% of
form of unpaid activity. innovative products and managers claim to regularly work from
One in  ve spouses ideas generated by higher home with 60% saying they were more
work a  ve day week education. This emphasis productive as a result. A further 69%
for free mostly in an on a new partnership noted that their work also improved back
administrative role. has also been highlighted at the of ce. 26% saw a considerable
The research was by education charity improvement in their motoring costs while
carried out as part Career Academics UK. 54% were very happy with their reduced
of Bibby’s new www. The organisation says it is stress levels. Over half still believe that
Live-Business.co.uk vital to invest in business  exi-working is a privilege but suggest that
initiative where owner- education for teenagers their colleagues should be encouraged to
managers can view in particular as a survival participate in such schemes.
business blogs, forums and growth imperative
and start-up panels so that  rms have a new
featuring Dragon’s Den generation of highly
entrepreneur Rachel quali ed and skilled staff
Elnaugh. readily available to them.
February 2009 www.businessfranchise.com
BF100-101_SmallBusiness_Feb08.X.indd 1 7/1/09 13:53:36
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