Press Release
COVID hammers UK firms – but sparks digital ‘pivot’ for some
Published: 22 December 2020
• Over 40% of UK’s small and medium-sized firms report COVID-related hit to turnover, while 3 in 10 forced to cut jobs
• Around 200,000 firms could be close to collapse based on analysis of those trading insolvently or running out of cash
• But a fifth of firms report positive impacts from the pandemic, with many embracing digital technologies and green agenda
• Around 200,000 firms could be close to collapse based on analysis of those trading insolvently or running out of cash
• But a fifth of firms report positive impacts from the pandemic, with many embracing digital technologies and green agenda
Press Release
Entrepreneurship “in jeopardy” after hitting new high pre-Covid
Published: 20 November 2020
• New Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report shows UK early-stage entrepreneurship hit a new high in 2019
• Nearly 1 in 10 working age adults were in the early stages of starting or running a business, with women catching up with men
• Progress threatened by Chancellor’s decision not to provide financial support for three million entrepreneurs
UK entrepreneurship is “in jeopardy” despite hitting a new high pre-pandemic because of gaps in support for people in the early stages of running a business, a leading expert has warned.
Professor Mark Hart of Aston Business School said the exclusion of three million people from Government support schemes since March was “chipping away at the foundations of our enterprise economy”.
His comments come on the back of a new report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) which show that the UK recorded its highest rate of early-stage entrepreneurship since the global annual survey began nearly 20 years ago.
• Nearly 1 in 10 working age adults were in the early stages of starting or running a business, with women catching up with men
• Progress threatened by Chancellor’s decision not to provide financial support for three million entrepreneurs
UK entrepreneurship is “in jeopardy” despite hitting a new high pre-pandemic because of gaps in support for people in the early stages of running a business, a leading expert has warned.
Professor Mark Hart of Aston Business School said the exclusion of three million people from Government support schemes since March was “chipping away at the foundations of our enterprise economy”.
His comments come on the back of a new report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) which show that the UK recorded its highest rate of early-stage entrepreneurship since the global annual survey began nearly 20 years ago.
Press Release
Job loss fears making workers less open about mental health
Published: 4 November 2020
• ‘Furlough envy’, isolation and additional home stresses have triggered deteriorations in workplace mental health, new study suggests
• Workers less likely to talk to managers about experiencing mental health problems since lockdown, fearing ‘repercussions’
• Study highlights need to raise awareness among employers of resources available to support mental health
Workers have become less open about their mental health struggles since the coronavirus outbreak because of fears they could lose their jobs if they speak up, new research suggests.
The findings from the Enterprise Research Centre, based on in-depth interviews with managers in UK firms over the summer, also show workplaces have become divided by how different staff have been treated since March – with some saying ‘furlough envy’ had split teams.
• Workers less likely to talk to managers about experiencing mental health problems since lockdown, fearing ‘repercussions’
• Study highlights need to raise awareness among employers of resources available to support mental health
Workers have become less open about their mental health struggles since the coronavirus outbreak because of fears they could lose their jobs if they speak up, new research suggests.
The findings from the Enterprise Research Centre, based on in-depth interviews with managers in UK firms over the summer, also show workplaces have become divided by how different staff have been treated since March – with some saying ‘furlough envy’ had split teams.
Press Release
Leadership in ‘laggards’ key to post-Covid productivity gains
Published: 29 September 2020
• New study challenges assumption that most productive firms will drive future productivity gains
• Inspirational leadership shown to boost productivity in firms of all sizes and sectors, even those starting with low levels
• Research provides evidence to support recent public investment in ‘soft skills’ training for business leaders.
New research from the Enterprise Research Centre suggests that small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with lower starting levels of productivity – sometimes referred to pejoratively as “laggards” – are in fact just as likely to see gains over time as their more productive rivals.
• Inspirational leadership shown to boost productivity in firms of all sizes and sectors, even those starting with low levels
• Research provides evidence to support recent public investment in ‘soft skills’ training for business leaders.
New research from the Enterprise Research Centre suggests that small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with lower starting levels of productivity – sometimes referred to pejoratively as “laggards” – are in fact just as likely to see gains over time as their more productive rivals.
Press Release
Chancellor’s new measures “leave 3m entrepreneurs high and dry”
Published: 24 September 2020
Millions of early-stage entrepreneurs and limited company directors “thrown to the wolves” despite extensions to support schemes
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘winter economy plan’ still excludes millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners from support, the Enterprise Research Centre has warned.
Key measures announced by Mr Sunak today [24 September 2020] include the new Job Support Scheme to replace the ‘furlough’ measures introduced in March, running for six months from November.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘winter economy plan’ still excludes millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners from support, the Enterprise Research Centre has warned.
Key measures announced by Mr Sunak today [24 September 2020] include the new Job Support Scheme to replace the ‘furlough’ measures introduced in March, running for six months from November.
Press Release
Support for entrepreneurs critical for post-Covid recovery – GEM
Published: 16 September 2020
• Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report calls on policymakers to create right conditions for an enterprise-led economic recovery worldwide.
Policymakers around the world must provide clear advice and practical support for entrepreneurs to ensure global economies recover from the devastation of coronavirus, a new report says.
Presenting a snapshot of support measures introduced by 54 countries around the world since the Covid-19 outbreak, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) – whose UK team is led by Professor Mark Hart of Aston University – says entrepreneurs starting and growing their businesses will be key to a return to global growth.
It has called on governments and enterprise agencies to prioritise clear communication and reduce red tape to help entrepreneurs take advantage of changes in technology and consumer behaviour since the start of the pandemic.
The report assesses each participating country’s performance against a set of nine metrics known as the GEM Entrepreneurial Framework Conditions. The chapter on the UK’s response highlights the gaps in support for many early-stage entrepreneurs and fears that measures implemented early on to help entrepreneurs and firms are being withdrawn too soon.
Policymakers around the world must provide clear advice and practical support for entrepreneurs to ensure global economies recover from the devastation of coronavirus, a new report says.
Presenting a snapshot of support measures introduced by 54 countries around the world since the Covid-19 outbreak, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) – whose UK team is led by Professor Mark Hart of Aston University – says entrepreneurs starting and growing their businesses will be key to a return to global growth.
It has called on governments and enterprise agencies to prioritise clear communication and reduce red tape to help entrepreneurs take advantage of changes in technology and consumer behaviour since the start of the pandemic.
The report assesses each participating country’s performance against a set of nine metrics known as the GEM Entrepreneurial Framework Conditions. The chapter on the UK’s response highlights the gaps in support for many early-stage entrepreneurs and fears that measures implemented early on to help entrepreneurs and firms are being withdrawn too soon.
Press Release
Lack of support for workers’ mental health “cuts firm productivity by a quarter”
Published: 22 May 2020
A new report funded through the Midlands Engine Mental Health and Productivity Pilot (MHPP) finds that firms impacted by mental health sickness absence suffered a 25% hit to their productivity.
A new report funded through the Midlands Engine Mental Health and
Productivity Pilot (MHPP) finds that firms impacted by mental health sickness
absence suffered a 25% hit to their productivity
• Bosses surveyed cited remote working and job insecurity as risk factors – but many unsure where to turn for advice on boosting staff wellbeing
• Report calls for firms to appoint ‘mental health leads’ to oversee wellbeing policies and seek advice from specialist mental health charities
• Report is part of three-year programme funded by the Midands Engine that is supporting employers with workplace mental health challenges
A new report funded through the Midlands Engine Mental Health and
Productivity Pilot (MHPP) finds that firms impacted by mental health sickness
absence suffered a 25% hit to their productivity
• Bosses surveyed cited remote working and job insecurity as risk factors – but many unsure where to turn for advice on boosting staff wellbeing
• Report calls for firms to appoint ‘mental health leads’ to oversee wellbeing policies and seek advice from specialist mental health charities
• Report is part of three-year programme funded by the Midands Engine that is supporting employers with workplace mental health challenges
Press Release
UK companies facing COVID-19 “pincer movement”, data shows
Published: 20 April 2020
New data shows a spike in limited companies going out of business - coupled with a big decline in new starts - has hit all regions and sectors since the start of March.
New data suggests the UK economy is facing a worrying “pincer movement” due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a surge in limited companies going bust being mirrored by a drop in new firms setting up.
The analysis by the Enterprise Research Centre shows that 61,472 limited companies folded between the start of March and mid-April, with a parallel drop in the numbers of new firms registering with Companies House.
Comparing figures from March this year with the full month’s data from last March, the number of firms going out of business was 70% higher than a year ago (up 21,206), while the number of new firms incorporated fell by 23% (14,270 fewer).
New data suggests the UK economy is facing a worrying “pincer movement” due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a surge in limited companies going bust being mirrored by a drop in new firms setting up.
The analysis by the Enterprise Research Centre shows that 61,472 limited companies folded between the start of March and mid-April, with a parallel drop in the numbers of new firms registering with Companies House.
Comparing figures from March this year with the full month’s data from last March, the number of firms going out of business was 70% higher than a year ago (up 21,206), while the number of new firms incorporated fell by 23% (14,270 fewer).
Press Release
750,000 self-employed miss out on UK coronavirus support – study
Published: 3 April 2020
Lack of provision for most vulnerable self-employed in measures announced by the UK Chancellor last week threatens to “decimate a whole generation of early-stage entrepreneurs”, report authors say.
More than 750,000 self-employed people in the UK could miss out on Government support during the Coronavirus pandemic, a new analysis has shown.
The findings from the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Enterprise Research Centre suggest that sole traders who have recently started up are most vulnerable to a near-total loss of income, threatening to “decimate a whole generation of early-stage entrepreneurs”.
More than 750,000 self-employed people in the UK could miss out on Government support during the Coronavirus pandemic, a new analysis has shown.
The findings from the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Enterprise Research Centre suggest that sole traders who have recently started up are most vulnerable to a near-total loss of income, threatening to “decimate a whole generation of early-stage entrepreneurs”.
Press Release
Shake-up of geographic origin labels scheme “must educate consumers to support UK food heritage”
Published: 6 March 2020
Shake-up of geographic origin labels scheme “must educate consumers to support UK food heritage”
• Education of consumers and minimising red tape is essential as the UK develops its own ‘geographical indication’ (GI) labelling system for traditional food products following Brexit, new research shows
The introduction of a new system for protecting unique British food products such as Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pork pies will depend on better educating consumers and minimising the regulatory burden for producers to be successful, researchers have said.
• Education of consumers and minimising red tape is essential as the UK develops its own ‘geographical indication’ (GI) labelling system for traditional food products following Brexit, new research shows
The introduction of a new system for protecting unique British food products such as Cornish pasties and Melton Mowbray pork pies will depend on better educating consumers and minimising the regulatory burden for producers to be successful, researchers have said.
