smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Small firms need to encourage more flexible working practices and invest in IT skills to increase productivity.

A recent survey from BT Business found small companies are not investing as much as they should into IT training for staff, which could enable them to harness new technology and in turn make the company more productive.

The newspaper states one area which could benefit from IT investment is increasing flexible working practices for staff.

BT research shows more than 14,500 of its employees work from home, which has increased productivity by 20 per cent and given the company 'huge' cost savings.

Research from the Centre for Future Studies finds there are three generations of flexible working, the first consisting of offering short term or part-time hours, the Financial Times reports.

The second level involves flexi-hours and giving staff the capacity to work on the move, while third generation involves setting up a complete virtual office, meaning employees can work in an entirely separate location.

Many small firms have yet to adopt third generation working, which the report says is due to lack of training, as three-quarters of these businesses say they offer no IT skills sessions.

Small businesses are less likely to adopt the third generation working than larger companies but recognise the benefits of doing so.

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