Many of you will have heard the saying “people are our greatest asset”, a statement that I believe is true for all organisations.  In this month’s CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) People Management magazine, there is a fascinating article about HR in SME’s.

60% of all private sector jobs are in SME’s, 90% of which employ less than 5 people.  Yet these organisations have a combined annual turnover of £1.8 trillion!  A huge contribution to the economy.

The pressures of working for a SME (time, financial, resources) mean that, for many, HR support is non-existent or hard to come by.  Yet, I believe everyone should have access to the development they need – to improve their business performance and enhance personal development.

I know that, for many small businesses, keeping costs down is crucial, yet well directed, tailored development can lead to a return on investment that many business owners would never dream of.

It is also difficult to let people out of the business to attend workshops, which is why I am creating a range of short, snappy workshops that can be delivered in just a couple of hours.

I believe that we need to find a way for everyone to receive the development they need and bring about business improvements.

I would be really interested to hear your thoughts on the key challenges for SME’s in developing their people (plus any suggestions to overcome them!).  I am keen to ensure that the opportunity to develop yourself is available to everyone.

After all, if people really are our “greatest assets” we need to look at them!