The Sage UK Omnibus surveyed 1,500 SMEs from its 800,000-strong UK customer base in June 2010 and found 40% of SME owners are forecasting growth. The Sage research also found that 30% of businesses questioned are looking to employ new staff in the next six months, but only 5% of these will be graduates.
While many experts see SMEs as the engine for economic recovery accounting for 60% of the UK’s workforce, the majority of small businesses have no plans to take on university leavers. The research highlighted that nearly two-thirds (61%) do not employ interns.
Brendan Flattery, managing director of Sage’s Small Business division, said: "It is very positive to see so many entrepreneurs forecasting growth for their business in the coming months. Ensuring adequate staff resourcing will be key to SMEs maintaining service levels and realising their ambitions.
"Increasing a firm in size can be a delicate challenge for any company and it appears that SMEs are prioritising recruiting people who have gained real work experience. However, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills suggesting SMEs make up 99.9% of the UK’s 4.8 million businesses and account for nearly two thirds of the UK’s workforce, the research also highlights the very real challenge facing graduates looking for employment straight out of university."
