Throughout the recession, many business owners have switched growth policies for survival strategies. Yet in the context of climate change and global warming, can the small business sector, afford to ignore the ‘Green Imperative’ and how much will it actually cost?

According to a recent report by the Federation of Small Business and the Environment, over 60% of businesses have a codified ‘Green Policy’ in which they stipulate how their company operates environmentally and yet that same report found that, since the recession hit, 20% of all those businesses have reduced that amount of time and resource they invest in ‘green issues’. While 15% stated that they could not make the changes they originally conceived due to the fact that it would cost too much to implement.

Michelle Parish, head of environmental science and research at FSB comments:

“While it is extremely encouraging to find that the majority of small businesses in the UK have a clear environmental policy, it is less pleasing to hear that the economic pressure of the recession has led to a lack of available funds to implement their policy effectively. We feel that there is still little incentive for small businesses to act better environmentally. Schemes such as the one offered by the Carbon Trust – in which they provide an element of funding to encourage businesses act ‘greener’ – are a definite step forward.”

In a previous post, we discussed how the proportion of older people considering company formation, had risen exponentially over the last year. A fact the government has failed to recognise, if their proposed 2012 pension reform scheme is anything to go by.

The government is positioning this new scheme as a ‘complete overhaul of the current system. ‘Under the new scheme, employers will be asked to pay into a private sector pension called a Personal Account. While the government will not force employers to join the scheme, they will make it increasingly difficult to ‘opt out’.

The announcement of the government’s proposal has prompted immediate feedback from the SME sector. Nadia Kitman, director of small enterprise at accountancy firm ‘Lawrence & Smith’, comments; “ While there is an increasing need for the government to recognise that we have an aging population in this country and as a consequence, the current pension scheme does need an element of reform, I am not sure they are going about it in the correct manner.”

“On the one hand, under the new reforms, companies who have previously ignored pension schemes, choosing to offer an alternative , will no longer be sanctioned to do so. Yet on the other hand, the government is ignoring the fact that people are living longer and doing so in better health. Ultimately, the governments scheme, fails to recognise not only that a lot of the older generation want to work longer, but also the benefits that could have to the wider economy ’

In conclusion, it is clear that the government needs to look again at the pension scheme, nut it is crucial they do so informed by the changing nature of society.

In yesterday’s post, we discussed the benefit of flexible working for parents. We also found that most employers were reluctant to implement such a policy and most employees felt uncomfortable raising the matter – especially in the current economic climate.

However, according to a recent report conducted by ‘Entrepreneur’, a quarterly magazine dedicated to reporting on trends in the SME and company formation sector, many people considering forming their own company are doing so from the comfort of their own home.

As anyone, starting their own business will tell you, it can be hugely costly and present you with unexpected financial challenges and in a context of restricted lending it is vital that your start up is as cost effective as possible, right from the offset. That is why many entrepreneurs are foregoing expensive offices and enjoying the flexibility and financial freedom, working from home gives you.
According to the ‘Entrepreneur’ report over five thousand home based companies are formed every week which accounts for an estimated annual turnover of £284bn.

Rachel Miller, curator of the survey, comments: “In a context of increasing technological sophistication and a lack of available finance, it is not surprising that many entrepreneurs are choosing to start their company from home; not only is it more cost effective, it also offers increased flexibility and flexibility is one of the main reason many people choose to start their own company.”

One of the most difficult and well documented issues in contemporary society is establishing a work/life balance. Never is this more important than when you have a child.

In the UK, the government devised a law, by which when an employee has a child; they are able to ask their employers for flexible working hours. However, a recent report has suggested, that over 60% of all employees with children feel unable to ask their employers.

Over thirty percent over all the 2000 respondents asked; felt that they received little support from their employers, while over half believe that the lack of support has increased during the recession. According to the organization ‘Plus One’, most employees with children feel that they would be risking their career if they exercised their rights by asking for flexible working time.