Family Business Scale-ups: Breaking Barriers to Growth
The challenges to growing and scaling family businesses
Figure 28: Engagement with universities
Engagement with Universities
5 in 10 scaling business leaders would be willing to pay to access university support, if it met their talent and growth needs
Post-graduate students for specific research projects Online platform(s) that provide opportunities to
39%
33%
engage on collaborative projects Dedicated research grant funding
32%
Alongside education pathways, businesses are making active use of skills and workforce programmes. Four in ten (42%) offer apprenticeships, internships and/or work placements, and many see further scope to expand provision. When asked which reforms would help to bridge skills gaps, 46% point to a Flexible Talent Fund to support upskilling and reskilling current employees, 45% want access to recruitment and workforce transition programmes, and 41% and / or innovation facilities Better understanding of what support is on offer A single point of contact who could facilitate engagement across the institution Universities to act as ‘anchors’ / facilitators of investor and / or corporate collaborations Provision of regular briefings on relevant university activities
29%
28%
27%
26%
Access to international talent remains an important part of the picture. Just over half (51%) employ staff in the UK from overseas, and 36% already have employees based overseas, although three in ten say it is difficult to employ talent from overseas. Businesses identify a number of areas where visa access could be improved, including faster processing times (41%), reduced application costs (41%), simpler systems (40%), fast-tracking for family and dependants (35%), coverage of a wider range of roles (34%), and lower salary thresholds (34%).
would like upskilling and reskilling programmes to enable workers to move into their sector. Greater flexibility in the apprenticeship system is also desired, with 36% seeking access to flexi- apprenticeships where an agency employs the apprentice, but businesses can bring them on board for flexible, shorter-term placements, and foundation apprenticeships (32%) that develop essential employability and transferable skills alongside existing workers. One-third (34%) would like to see increased use of skills bootcamps, short courses that build sector-specific skills.
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