Two different items that came my way this week highlighted how small business was contributing to the recovery of the economy. Lord Young reporting to the Prime minister noted that the last report into small business was the Bolton Report back in 1971 which concluded the small business sector of some three quarters of a million businesses at the time was in terminal decline and doomed for extinction. Today that pessimistic view is transformed with 5 million small businesses, 19 out of 20 employing less than 10 people, are leading the growth in jobs. Large firms he says are still important, they employ a third of the work force but thanks to technology they too need less people. Lord Young makes another interesting observation that the skills needed to work in small firms are entrepreneurial, while teamwork is what large firms need.
The second item was a card dropped through the door with the headline - " Your other office" - promoting funkbunk - "the alternative workspace for people who work from home. " Funkbunk (I know - don't ask) is a workhub with "hot desking" facilities and meeting space. They claim 13% of people already work from home with 60% of employees forecast to join them in the next decade and they are providing a base for those who don't like the isolation of working alone and are better motivated in the entrepreneurial workspace they have created.
Big business meanwhile is getting bad press all the time - tax avoidance being the current worry. This does not even mention the still large public sector and the legislators in the European Union who write the laws for employment along with everything else!
So what does it all mean for marketing? Perhaps it is time to take a fresh look at where businesses are headed, who runs them, where they are and how marketing can accelerate their growth and success.
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