7000 Chances to make Warrington Businesses Larger

There are over 7000 businesses in Warrington, the majority of them small, employing fewer than 50 people and the largest proportion employing less than 10. 

Seen as the ‘engine of the economy’ a key objective of consecutive governments has been to get small businesses to grow into being large ones, so that they employ more people and (hopefully) pay more taxes. Sounds easy doesn’t it? However, the majority of small firms, if they survive the more dangerous early years cannot seem to organise for growth. They certainly cite a lack of finance as holding them back, but for many this isn’t the real issue. At the heart of the matter, putting motivation and ‘lifestyle’ businesses aside research reports cite a lack of the management skills required to develop an organisation. There are many organisations that can provide training and education on these skills, with full qualifications or short courses, but despite many of these being free, relatively few businesses pursue this and so are destined to take ‘more of the same’, if they survive that is. In Warrington therefore there are approaching 7000 chances to make larger businesses. The small businesses with ambitions need to get the management skills in place to deliver the growth. Simple. 

Lawrence Bellamy is a Professor at the Warrington School of Management, University of Chester