ENTREPRENEURS NEWS | IN BRIEF
WEB COULD BE THE KEY FOR SUCCESS
Small businesses can use clever website design as a tool to compete against large businesses. Recent research released by Yell shows that when websites are equally matched in sophistication and utility, the consumer is less likely to be able to make the distinction between the size of the business, and two-thirds of consumers would choose the small business’s website over the large business. The website’s clarity and simplicity in displaying information is also key in helping the consumer’s decision on whether or not to make a purchase.
GOV TO GIVE MORE TO UNI ENTREPRENEURS
The government will give £500,000 in funding to university enterprise societies in order to promote and support the new wave of young entrepreneurs. The minister for business and enterprise Mark Prisk announced the funding move last week, noting how this ties in with the current push for encouraging young entrepreneurs to make their ideas happen in an effort to boost the UK economy. An innovation fund will also be set up to award up to £8,000 to individual university enterprise societies to boost the schools’ entrepreneurial activity.
THREE QUARTERS PREFER SMES
More than three quarters of jobseekers prefer working in small to medium-sized businesses (SME), new research from Hays, a professional recruiting group, shows. However, despite the positives of SMEs that jobseekers listed, like greater responsibility, more collaborations with senior employees and an increased hands-on approach, concerns about uncompetitive salaries and benefits deter them from applying. Instead, they pursue employment at larger businesses. Job security and stability are additional appealing aspects of large businesses that jobseekers noted attract them as well.