Managing and Leading SMEs: Issues and Solutions

This report discusses the issues faced by small businesses in the UK, particularly the lack of skilled labor, and the government support measures available to overcome them. It also provides solutions to improve marketing, cash flow, online presence, and customer retention. The report emphasizes the importance of conducting SWOT analysis, adopting a forward-thinking attitude, believing in business growth, perseverance, determination, and keeping account of customers.

Managing and Leading SMEs

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................3
FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................3
A. Explanation on issue that organization faces..........................................................................3
B. UK’s government support measures that are available to help the business to overcome the
issue..............................................................................................................................................4
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................6
a) Critical evaluation and discussion of the contemporary issues...............................................6
b) Detailed explanation of the suggested solutions......................................................................7
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Small scale industries that are operating in United Kingdom will undergo set of entities that are
regarded to be the highlight of an economy. There are challenges that are brought forth with
respect to private businesses that are operating in UK and mostly these registered businesses will
have a next of reaching a good target market. The significant share that is brought forth with
respect to the United Kingdom and the different industries that are operating is said to be one of
the dominant factors that would entitle every private enterprise. UK is a country that is bringing
about an opportunity for existing SMEs and therefore in order to bring about the prominence
they will have to be strategic to get orientated (Amoako, 2018). The entire aim of the report is to
deal with the objectives as well as the findings that are into bringing about the issues which are
being faced by small business owners while dealing with the business growth. There are also the
strategies that are put forth in order to make sure that they overcome these issues along with a
prominent discussion that is being highlighted. The secondary research that is put forth in this
regard will eventually deal with the sources on internet as well as different information that is
being gathered through educational sites that will bring in a prominence of understanding. The
secondary research that is opted in this regard will bring an extravagant source that will highlight
the prominence of understanding entire orientation of small-scale businesses.
FINDINGS
FINDINGS
A. Explanation on issue that organization faces.
Issue that organization facing is availability of skilled labour in the logistics company that is
FAST PREP. Organization deals in a logistics and warehouse services in the cheapest cost for
other business and support them with fast and cost effective fulfilment.
Major issue that organization as a SME is facing availability of skilled labour in the organization
for better service to consumer and other business for which they are working (Ageron, Benzidia,
and Bourlakis, 2018).
Skilled labour indicates workforce and training carrying out the knowledge in the labour
of the organization to get better and specialization in their work. FAST PREP face the unskilled
labour issue in the organization, which refer individual with a limited knowledge and skills.
Skilled labour has the perfect knowledge of technology, and essential things which can be used
in the organization for the better service.

Challenges FAST PREP FACES are;
Sub issue:
Lack knowledge on digital use: Information technology can be pain for the organization
because as the technology increases in the logistics sector like, tracking, delivery status.
Organization also develop this technology in their business for the better advancement. But, with
the lack of knowledge to their labour, employees company faces issue in regard to enhance their
ability. Workers in the organization used to work as a traditional method that indicates the record
and paperwork. Industry demand digital transformation because of the technology advancement
in the environment and competition is also increases because of increase in technology. Rise of
automation is a big component for the organization because they do not have many advanced
labour in the organization. For the better implication the cybersecurity is also necessary for the
organization for this again they do not have a perfect employee in order to maintain the
cybersecurity of the organization as SME's (Korchagina, and et.al 2020). Without decent
logistics management in the organization is not going to perform well. As they started an e-
commerce business that's why they have to maintain and established a better digitalization
performance in their organization.
Miscommunication with consumers: Nowadays, the market has become dynamic and supply
chain become more complex and this factor change the customer expectation as well, in regard to
delivery and service quality. Employee of the organization has to maintain and ensure about the
communication they are doing with the consumer. Consumer nowadays far advance and know
about everything, therefore, no one can fool them that's why employees who deal with the
consumer has to be proper and deals patiently with them to crack the deals and attract the
customer towards the organization. Consumer desire changes according to the technology.
COVID-19 is also one of the major factor in the transportation of goods and service. Therefore,
company faces a lot of issues because of the lock down in the country. That time they are not
able to deliver the goods in a time (Galkin, and et.al 2019).
B. UK’s government support measures that are available to help the business to overcome the
issue.
Majority of logistics company faces many issues in their business and to keep up their supply
chain timeline. The serious lack of skilled labour and specialization in the logistics sector. For
better performance government support the organization business in order to keep up their

business and for better performing. Work models and supply chain is far better of other big
companies rather than the SME's. Government support organization in order to train the
employee of the organization by foreign trainers and workforce. The productivity of the
organization is also enhanced because of this and mange accordingly. Being and SME'S it is
difficult for the organization to compete with the big firms. Big firms play a major role in this
sector. Therefore, the government develop many plans and regulation for the SME's to improve
in this field. The logistics requires the base of physical assets, which require a funding. Funding
to the organization brought from the government for the better advancement and enhance their
ability in logistics. Government invests on the transportation infrastructure and private creation
of the resources which needed in the organization to develop their skills and maintain the
organization stability.
Increasing awareness regarding technology on providing funds to SME's: As describe above
the digitalization issue that company faces to implement in their business. As the company
already are e-commerce therefore, they have to manage work accordingly. Government offer
direct and indirect investment to the organization to implement the digitalization. This become
advantage to the organization to implement in their company for the better advancement.
Government helps in the cybersecurity to the organization for the better advancement in the
organization. Even in the tracking of the goods and service that require in the organization. Like,
insurance facility, EPA etc. which help the organization in many ways of shipping.
Overcome with consumer issues: This indicates the factor which organization has to face on a
daily basis because of lack skilled in labour. Train employee of the company by foreign trainer
or any other expert for better advancement and compete with their competitors. The policy and
demand supply of the organization is also changes in the environment and therefore the
consumer preferences and choices is also changed (Voigt, and et.al 2019). Changing fuel price
increased in the cost of the services provided by the organization and thereafter, this indicates
this might increase the problems for the consumer and organization have to manage this impacts
accordingly. For this government should make flexibility in this and control on their taxation
price and technology advance for the better advantage of the organization. Maintaining cash
cycle in the organization by the consumer also maintain the quality and efficiency.
Government help organization in many ways by improving the road and create a Rail
network which helps organization logistics services a lot. Education and research in the

digitalization in logistics business are important in regard to manage everything which relate to
the transportation tracking, cybersecurity, delivery status and timeline which enhance the
organization ability. Permitting the land use by heavy load and regulations for this help the
organization a lot to improve their business (Yousefi, Jahangoshai Rezaee, and Moradi, 2020).
DISCUSSION
a) Critical evaluation and discussion of the contemporary issues
Lack of proper marketing: while dealing with a small-scale business it is always one of the major
business problems that will have to be dealt by the business everywhere is to establish a proper
marketing criteria. This is because it is not until one of proper marketing strategy is being
incorporated that the business can eventually move ahead in terms of working with important
means (Sardi and et.al, 2020). There is a heavy competition that is the outnumbered in this
present business world and therefore in order to deal with the marketing purposes they
organisations will have to move ahead in terms of employee and strategies like that of online
marketing offline marketing social marketing direct and also many other marketing prominences
that will help it to deal with the circumstances.
Getting and retaining customers: customers are the important speculations in order to make sure
that the business is moving ahead in terms of development. In order to make sure that there is a
good retaining of customer base and also the responsibilities at her oriented with respect to
organisation it is always essential to build trust and credibility in the midst of customers. The
promotion of every product or the server that is oriented with the organisation will have to
eventually deal with the prominence of trust that can be scheduled over the customer’s approach.
Money management: cash flow is said to be one of the criteria which every business usually
stresses upon. Strong cash flow will have to be maintained in order to make sure the business is
running over a prominent and the spectacular criteria and the services are oriented with making a
good revenue and profit (Haslan and et.al, 2019). When there is a proper cash flow that
businesses are said to be operating on a successful term. The small-scale industries in this regard
will have to deal with the set of cash flow business problems that will help it to regain its
efficiency. For this the accounts as well as money management will have to be carefully analysed
and the generation of services will have to interlink to every account that is to be dealt.

Maintaining online presence: for any Organisation in order to gain reputation it is always
necessary to maintain online presence. Strong online presence will help the business to deal with
extra vacancy creations that are undeniable. The online presence that is maintained by the
businesses around where the entity of dealing with Marketing as well as many other financial
problems can eventually be dealt by the amount of customer base that is being returned as a part
of online presence. For small scale business as well as the owners that are associated with small
scale business these are the opportunities of getting a proper reputation and also they can be
obsessed with the growth prospects with a stipulated reason. They can attain good connections
and a good customer base. The organisational prominence can go to a level of being the best
upon evaluating the choices of maintaining online presence (Wulani and et.al, 2019).
Business issue: there are certain business issues that are usually being dealt by the organisation
at all levels that make it stand unique with its pace of development. According to the niche of
issues the one that can be highlighted amidst of the organisation is the lack of skilled workforce.
This is one of the important consideration that is eventually dealt by the organisation that is
mostly a serious one since the implementation of organisational policies and works will have to
be carry forwarded with the right work force.
b) Detailed explanation of the suggested solutions
Conducting frequent SWOT analysis: it is necessary to deal with the swot analysis every now and
then. SWOT analysis will bring in the strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats that are in
regard to organisational entity and that can also highlight the functional unit. This will bring in
an adaptation towards the existing policies and frameworks that are happening internally. The
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that are in regard to organisational entity can
help to monitor the existing circumstances and in case if there is something additional scenario
that will have to be implemented then the businesses can move ahead in developing their SWOT
analysis.
Adopt a forward-thinking attitude: while dealing with the business it is necessary to initiate the
forward-thinking attitude because it is not until when there is a perfect vision that is oriented than
the business plan cannot be created (Stangler, 2009). In order to deal with the small businesses as
well as the small business owner it is always essential to make sure that the mission statement is
brought forth such that it can be gratified that instance. The products and services will have to be
accounted because the business and its growth prospects will entirely dependent upon how far

the prospects are being able to deal with the strategies. By also putting the business in the race
and also defining its position the competitor analysis can be understood. This forward-thinking
capacity will have to be initiated by the organisation in order to inculcate the standards and to
make sure that the small business is being able to move ahead with a greater scope.
Believing in business growth: there will be different hurdles and unexpected situations at a place.
In order to deal with the self-esteem measures that are rumbling over the choices in a business it
is always the ability that will highlight the strategies that are necessary. A legal advisor is
necessary for a business because in order to get council with respect to the developing situations
around and the stress that will have to be inculcated with respect to bring about the strategies into
existence it is always necessary for a good counselling to be around (Bridge and et.al, 2008).
This can eventually bring about a trust that is necessary in order to aim for long term orientation.
Perseverance and determination: most of the businesses and that too small-scale industries
eventually go down because of the lack of perseverance and determination criteria. The small
business administration will have to first develop a vision that is oriented with embracing
challenges. The mind that is as important as dealing with any other statistics because the business
failures are eventually brought forth with respect to the lack of determination.
Keep account of customers: the customers of the organisation are helpful in garnering the results
the business will have to consider because the development strategies as well as the campaigns
that will have to be plant can only be oriented with loyal customer base. New products as well as
development can bring in a greater scope and a variable customer experience that can speed up
organisational entity (Saputra and Herlina, 2021).
Embrace failures: as there is a statement which suggests that failures are the stepping stone to
success therefore this implies to the small businesses. A failure will never end up being so
because there are successful strategies that can be put forth in order to make sure that the
troubles are identified and the motivation is attained.
Smart goals and objectives: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely objectives and
goals will have to be derived in order to achieve the clarity over certain circumstances that are
pertaining. The focus will have to be oriented which will bring in the realistic mechanism that
will have to be inculcated in the organisation to keep a count of all the stages that are happening
in the organisation.

Solution for business issue: in order to make sure that things are carried in a right prospect, the
recruitment and selection processes that are held by the human resources team will have to be
carefully analysed to bring in the skilled workforce in to the organisational embodiment. The
training and development programs will have to be at the niche of being the best such that they
can inculcate the standards.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Checking government guidelines: the government guidelines are important in order to make sure
that there will not be any external forces that are pertaining with respect to organisation. This
will also develop a mindset that will bring in success which is oriented with passion. The
government guidelines will often an act as a barrier and therefore this small-scale industries will
have to get ahead with the regulations that will be developed according to the rules which are
imposed (Rubio-Andrés and et.al, 2019).
Taking note of rules and regulations: the rules and regulations that are following in regard to
government policies will have to be understood. In some orientation these rules and regulations
might also be an impact for the organisation to gain their base and therefore this are the things
that will have to be understood.
Working on innovation: innovation will have to be worked upon because it is not until when the
organisation is moving ahead in terms of developing thoughts and ideologies based on
innovation that the product awareness and competitive spirit comes in (Heidt and et.al, 2019).
This is also one of the important criteria while dealing with a small industry or a sector because
the more the innovation the more will be the opportunities.
Planning: the planning that will have to be incorporated within the strategies that are associated
in order to bring up the orientation of a small scale business will have to be perfectly analysed.
Planning is one of the important criteria and with respect to human resources this will have to be
allotted in a more prominent way. One might seriously not be able to deal with the extravagant
situations and less and until there is a proper planning and therefore this will have to be made
sure.
Keep a note of other competitors: in order to deal with highest competition that is pertaining in
the market it will also have to be made sure that the strategies of the competitors will also have
to be evaluated. This is because there will be a proper understanding only when the competitive
strategies are learnt and also being analysed.

CONCLUSION
The report concludes upon explaining the aspects of a small-scale industry and its prominence in
the process of moving ahead with the logistics supply. There are certain explanations and
findings that are brought about by a discussion and the issues that are oriented with small
business owners. Through this report one can easily understand the various findings that are
falling in regard to logistics sector where in United Kingdom this particular sector is said to be
one of the prominent one which is operating. The critical evaluation and discussion of
contemporary issues that are being faced by small business everywhere outside United Kingdom
carbon explained in this report. The suggested solutions that are provided for all the business in
order to overcome challenges is being explained with respect to your consideration for the
business. A concise summary that is oriented with evaluation which will highlight the issues that
are proclaimed is understood on a perfect analysis. For recommendation for brought forth with
respect to how the organisations will have to inculcate the standards of government policy to
achieve their growth objective are being put forth.

REFERENCES
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Saputra and Herlina, 2021. Double-Sided Perspective of Business Resilience: Leading SME
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Stangler, 2009, “The Economic Future Just Happened”, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Voigt, and et.al 2019. Performance Evaluation of Reverse Logistics: Opportunities for Future
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