The PrOPEL Hub’s key focus is to explore how high-quality, inclusive and engaging people practices can drive productivity and performance within the workplace.  We recognise that microbusinesses and SMEs face a number of particular challenges in their delivery of people management and we have limited knowledge of the practices being employed.  There is also often poor uptake of business support available to microbusinesses and SMEs. 

For a fortnight from the 23rd of November we will be running our “Spotlight on Microbusinesses” featuring a series of web content and events exploring the challenges of and solutions to providing effective and inclusive people management support for microbusinesses.  This will set the scene in the lead up to our half day workshop on 9 December “The Silent Majority: Why does people management support for microbusinesses so often fall short?”  which will bring together a panel of key academic, policy and businesses stakeholders to investigate this important issue.

A schedule of events and content is below with further activity to be announced.

23 November

VIDEO: Productivity from Below: Addressing the Challenges of Microbusinesses

Professor Monder Ram, Dr Imelda McCarthy, Professor Anne Green and Katherine Jones share insights from a unique ESRC-funded research Productivity from Below, which is co-produced with practitioner partners and uses academic research to address and boost productivity practices in disadvantaged micro business communities in the West Midlands.

30 November

EVENT: CIPD People Profession Survey 2021: Reflections for Smaller Organisations

Gill Maxwell, CIPD Research Advisor, Professor Martin McCracken, Research Director at Ulster University and Nicky Jolley, Founder and Managing director of HR2day will explore the key changes and challenges practitioners in smaller organisations have faced over the last year and how they have adapted. Drawing on findings from the CIPD People Profession survey, which provides an annual snapshot of the people profession, the panel will narrow in on organisations with up to 250 employees to explore what people professionals have been doing and implications for the profession going forward. This will be an in person event taking place at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre with a follow up podcast (released on 2 December) .

9 December

EVENT: The Silent Majority: Why does people management support for microbusinesses so often fall short?

Through a series of talks and panel discussions with leading academics and practitioners (including micro business owners, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development), the PrOPEL Hub will explore the challenges facing micro businesses in accessing people practice support and lessons academics, policymakers and businesses advisers can take from this to develop a more inclusive support ecosystem.

23 November – 8 December

BLOG SERIES: Voices from the Micro Business Community

This blog series from the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CRÈME) features contributions from academics, practitioners and policy-makers offering fresh perspectives on engaging collaboratively with overlooked or disregarded business communities and promoting diversity and enterprise.