11/10/2010
Small firms should consider upgrading their facilities and taking steps to minimise disruption through the cold winter months, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has advised.
Last year's winter was the coldest in three decades, and many small businesses suffered as a result of treacherous weather conditions and staff being unable to get to work.
A recent YouGov poll cited by The Drum found that 58% of small business owners experienced difficulties last winter, even though more than three quarters of them felt they were adequately prepared.
Experts are predicting another harsh winter, so the FPB has advised small business to start making plans to ensure that as little disruption as possible is caused by cold weather.
SMEs wishing to upgrade their facilities ahead of the winter months can take advantage of invoice finance services, which help to free up funds for much-needed improvements.
"I think it's fair to say that last winter's extreme weather conditions caught out many small business owners," Big Hospitality quoted FPB spokesman Phil McCabe as saying.
"A lot of small firms struggled to continue trading as employees failed to make it into work, deliveries were cancelled and freezing temperatures caused heating equipment to fail, leaving their premises unusable."
"Obviously, in the current climate, small firms can ill afford a similar expenditure this year so we're urging business owners to think about their contingency plans now to ensure they aren't put out of action by another icy winter," he added.
Joseph Jeffries