News: Customer Service/Care
CBI: SMEs continue training in harsh business climate
12 November 2007
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is pleased to note that, even in difficult times, the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are continuing to upskill their workforces.
CBI figures illustrate that demand for goods from smaller firms has flattened, following nine months of solid growth.
Only two per cent more SMEs said that new orders had increased in the quarter to October 10th, compared to 12 per cent in the three months to July.
As well as this, firms are increasingly pessimistic about the current business environment, but training such as customer service training and contract law training remains important.
CBI SME Council chairman Steve Sharratt said: "The nine month run of growth that the sector has enjoyed has cooled off, but the detail is more mixed, with medium-sized firms enjoying very strong overseas demand.
"The supply of skilled labour continues to worry SME firms, but it is heartening that they have reacted by expanding and upskilling their workforces."
