BT Tradepsace identifies SME trends
Released
on: January 21, 2009, 4:01 am
Press
Release Author: BT
Tradespace
Industry:
Advertising
Press
Release Summary: BT Tradespace has revealed the growing trends
among small and medium businesses at the start of 2009.
Press
Release Body: BT Tradespace, the business social
networking site, has identified the trends of small and medium
enterprises' (SME), with longer working hours and a more environmentally
sound approach at the forefront of many businesses at the start
of the New Year.
It
was revealed that half the owners of small businesses in the UK
are working more than 60 hours a week, according to a poll conducted
by BT Tradespace.
Almost one in ten people (8%) are putting in 100 hours a week
or over - the equivalent of 14 hours of work a day.
The survey found the most common
weekly work time was 50-60 hours a week, with 21% of people working
this amount.
Mick Hegarty, head of BT Tradespace,
said: "Those running small and medium sized enterprises are
working hard to compete and that shows the passion, drive and
resiliance they have.
"However, smaller companies
can achieve a better work-life balance by embracing new technology,
enabling them to do things quicker, more efficiently and more
flexibly.
"Their size makes them perfect
candidates to adapt, innovate and thrive."
The
poll from BT
Tradespace also revealed that a quarter of SMEs are
helping the environment by clamping down on commuting to work.
Businesses are also implementing more home or flexible workiing
schemes, or using more business technology such as video or telephone
conferencing instead of asking employees to travel to meetings.
They are also encouraging staff to leave their cars at home.
Recycling is the most popular
green initiative, carried out by 25% of small businesses. 17%
are reducing energy use, cutting their gas and electricty bills
at a time of rising prices.
Mick Hegarty said: "Companies
can help the environment in many ways and the size of SMEs allows
them to be more flexible in adopting new work patterns.
"Key decision makers are
realising that modern technology, like broadband, cuts the need
to travel to work every day of the week because people can work
from home.
"The vast majority of SMEs
are environmentally aware and are trying to do something in the
fight against global warming."
The
survey for the business social
networking site found only 2% of the UK's SMEs are doing nothing
at all to help the environment.
About
BT Tradespace:
BT Tradespace is an online social and business networking community
for small businesses and their customers. It was launched in 2007
and now has over 310, 000 subscribers. The business
advertising service is free to join and allows businesses
to quickly and easily create and post content on the web as well
as interact and engage with their customers through the use of
blogs, podcasts, photos and videos. With www.bttradespace.com,
anyone can buy
and sell products and services, find a business and network
with like-minded people, helping to boost sales and create an
online presence.
Web
Site: http://www.bttradespace.com/
Contact
Details: For more information contact:
Dan Thomas
Senior Press Officer
BT News Room
PP A5P
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
020 7356 5383
www.bttradespace.com
2010
