Small and medium-sized enterprises
The facts
- At the beginning of 2011, there were 4.5 million businesses in
the UK. 99.9% of these were small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs).
- SMEs account for more than half of private sector employment
(58.8%) and nearly half of turnover (48.8%) in the UK
(BIS,
2011).
- We know that many businesses struggle to keep afloat in their
first years. In 2008 there were 270,000 business births in the UK
and provisionally 219,000 business deaths, a death rate of 9.4%.
This compares with 223,000 business deaths in 2007 and a
death rate of 9.8% (ONS,
2009).
- Research says that
current levels of health and safety compliance are not seen as
overly burdensome, but, businesses aren't clear about what is
needed by law.
Our position
Supporting SMEs is vital if we want to cut accidents and
ill-health.
We've developed free online
tools to guide business start-ups and SMEs on health,
safety and environment and help them assess and tackle risks. We
also offer a free guide to help businesses who want to work with a
health and safety consultant.
As part of our Get the best campaign,
we support embedding health and safety in the education and
training system, so that tomorrow's business leaders and employers
are better prepared.
In our 'manifesto' Creating a
healthier UK plc (PDF 107 KB), we urge others to give
better to support SMEs and commit to providing more resources. This
includes:
- calling for more Health and Safety Executive (HSE) staff for
advisory visits
- free downloads of HSE guidance for small firms
- tax relief where employers provide certain therapies for
non-work injury and illness
- government-funded workplace visits and advice for small firms
in England and Northern Ireland
- accreditation of health and safety consultants, to provide
improved user assurance.
Relevant IOSH consultation responses: