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Successful and growing small businesses are essential to the UK’s economic success. Only when business owners and their staff are equipped with the right skills can their enterprise grow. Therefore, meeting the skills needs of small businesses is a key part of having a productive and growing economy. It is crucial that we evaluate how we can support individuals to develop the skills they require for successful careers, and ones that businesses require now and in the future.

Skills & Recruitment

Of those that have tried to recruit in the past 12 months, 78 per cent have experienced difficulties in  recruiting staff due to various reasons, including:

  • A lack of individuals with relevant qualifications, skills and experience (82%)
  • Low number of applicants generally (60%).

Use a Recruitment Agency?

Otherwise known as employment agencies, recruitment companies act as the go-between for employers and jobseekers. They work on behalf of employers to find suitable candidates to fill their vacancies. Many employers use agencies, and signing up will sometimes give candidates access to jobs that aren't advertised elsewhere, whilst hiring managers using agencies have a team of people actively sourcing to fill the vacancy