Grant Thornton interviewed more than 500 managers of UK independent businesses and almost 52% expect the size of their workforce to stay the same over the next 12 months although just under 64% are looking at ways of reducing staffing costs.
More than half (54%) stand by the statement people are the greatest asset to their company. Because entrepreneurs have built up their business themselves, they remain close to the staff they have employed, with 97% feeling responsible for all their people and almost 99% considering their employees to be loyal.
Entrepreneurs remain committed to investing in training (52%), technology (54%) and making their company a great place to work (93%).
Alysoun Stewart, head of entrepreneurial advisory at Grant Thornton, said: "Entrepreneurial businesses tend to be lean operations, so each employee is vital to the running of the business.
"This segment of the economy has not been responsible for the major job losses we have been seeing as it is holding tight, believing in the value of its people and looking to a brighter future in less than two years' time. It would make bad business sense to cut jobs now only to have to recruit again in the near future."
Entrepreneurs remain positive about investing in people and training
Green shoots may be emerging: HR magazine has learned that less than 2% of entrepreneurs say reducing headcount is their single biggest issue and more than three quarters expect the current recruitment climate to get easier.
