Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking research: SMEs believe future success relies on their ability to recruit so-called millennials

  • Almost nine in ten SMEs say ‘future growth relies on millennials’
  • Millennials will turn down job if culture isn’t right, even if money is good
  • Businesses are investing 15 per cent of annual turnover to recruit millennials
  • They need mentoring support to attract this age group

LONDON, 20-8-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — Small and medium sized businesses believe future success relies on their ability to recruit so-called millennials – those born between 1980 and 2000 – but recognise that they need to do more to attract them, according to new research by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Almost nine in ten (86 per cent) SMEs said the growth of their business relies on their ability to recruit millennial talent. In fact, a quarter (25 per cent) said they want a millennial to take over their business one day.

It is estimated that millennials will account for more than half of the global workforce by 2020 and will shape the workplaces of tomorrow.

Power shift to millennial job-seekers

More than three quarters (77 per cent) of SMEs said they feel under pressure to sell themselves to millennials. Indeed, a third (33 per cent) of firms worry that a job offer has been turned down in the past because the young candidate didn’t like their business culture.

In fact, the survey showed that more than half (56 per cent) of millennials would turn down a job offer if they didn’t like a company’s culture, even if the salary was right.

Because of this, more than half (52 per cent) of businesses think the balance of power has shifted to millennials within the recruitment process.

As such, SMEs are reviewing and adapting their working practices, with most (88 per cent) prepared to do this to secure the services of millennials.

To this end, small businesses are, on average, investing 15 per cent of their annual turnover just on recruiting this generation.

Flexibility is a priority say millennials

When asked what they are looking for in a job, the most popular answer, cited by 45 per cent of millennials, was flexible working hours, followed by regular training (32 per cent) and the option to work from home (22 per cent).

While 65 per cent of SMEs think their business is already geared up correctly to attract millennials and offer them this kind of working environment, 40 per cent said they need further guidance – such as enterprise mentoring support – to recruit this age group more effectively.

The most attractive skills SMEs want in millennials are their fresh ideas (61 per cent), a different perspective (44 per cent) and digital skills (38 per cent).

Gareth Oakley, managing director, SME Banking, Lloyds Banking Group said: “SMEs need to work hard to recruit millennials as the future of their business could depend on having them on board. They can tap in to a range of attributes, from hard skills such as digital and technological know-how, to fresh ideas and new perspectives.

“Although SMEs are beginning to invest and change their business culture to make themselves more attractive, they also tell us that they need help to find the right people.

“Whether it’s marketing, financial support or digital expertise, for example, there’s a whole wealth of guidance available to them via our local relationship managers and national network of enterprise mentors. With this support, SMEs will be better placed to make a success of their millennial recruitment drive and ensure long-term business success.”

END

For more information please contact Ed Smith on 0207 661 4936 or ed.smith1@lloydsbanking.com

202 workforce figure source: www.pwc.com/gx/en/managing-tomorrows-people/future-ofwork/assets/reshaping-the-workplace.pdf

Lloyds Bank surveyed 400 SMEs and 200 millennials in July 2015

Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking

  • Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking provides comprehensive expert financial services to businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and small businesses to midsized businesses and multinational corporations.
  • Maintaining a network of relationship teams across the UK, as well as internationally, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking delivers the mix of local understanding and global expertise necessary to provide long-term support to its clients.
  • Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking offers a broad range of finance beyond term lending and this spans import and export trade finance, structured and asset finance, securitisation facilities and capital market funding. Its product specialists provide bespoke financial services and solutions, including tailored cash management, international trade, treasury and risk management services.

Support for SMEs

  • In 2014, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking grew its net lending to SMEs by 5% year-on-year, or over £1 billion (net), and announced a further commitment to grow lending to SMEs by £1 billion (net) every year until 2017.
  • Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking works with government to support small British businesses and offers competitively priced lending with support from the Funding for Lending Scheme.
  • In 2014 the Bank helped more than 100,000 start ups get off the ground as part of its commitment to supporting British enterprise.

SOURCE: Lloyds Bank

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