The government must “think small first” if its policies on business growth are to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), existing legislation puts too much of a bureaucratic burden on SMEs and as a result they are often reluctant to expand their workforces and move into larger serviced office spaces.
The CBI’s comments come as it launches its latest report, entitled Think Small First, which claims that SMEs could pick up employment slack from the public sector and create two-thirds of new jobs in areas in which they are well represented.
John Cridland, CBI director-general, said: “Smaller firms are job-creation dynamos.
“The size and nature of these firms makes them strong advocates of flexible and family-friendly working, and the government should build on this success.”
Earlier this year, the CBI claimed that flexible and mobile working has the potential to reduce workplace absenteeism if it is used effectively.
