SMEs are being short changed by the government when it comes to workplace training, one industry body has claimed.
According to Collin Willman, education and skills chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), steps must be taken to make sure that work-based training offered by "micro-businesses" is formally recognised.
He said: "At the moment the process is too expensive and too bureaucratic for many small businesses to cope with. The vast majority of businesses do not have an HR department to handle these issues."
While the FSB supports the government's efforts to get more people into training, employers should have the final say on matters and this should be related to the needs of the business, he added.
Yesterday, report by the House of Lord's Finance Bill Committee criticised the government over its handling of business tax reform.
According to Lord Vallance, chairman of the body, the development of legislation has been "marked by uncertainty of direction".
