Less than a third of all small businesses are aware of government training schemes available to them, it has been claimed.
A report commissioned by HSBC shows that, among firms with less than 50 employees, just 70 per cent know of the Sector Skills Councils or the Train2Gain programme.
Figures are slightly higher for medium-sized businesses, of 50 to 249 employees, of which 40 per cent are aware of the schemes.
The Publican, which reported the findings, says that there are "25 Sector Skills Councils as, each an employer-led independent organisation that covers a specific sector across the UK, with a view to reducing skills gaps, increasing productivity and improve learning".
"Train2Gain pays for employees to undertake qualifications and reimburses companies of less than 50 employees for the time their employees spend training."
"The survey also revealed that almost half of small firms conducted no formal training, though this did not exclude informal, on-the-job training."
Training isn't the only the only challenge facing SMEs.
A survey published today by Mediasurface and reported by Netimperative shows that the majority of small and medium-sized businesses believe their online branding is in need significant improvement.
