smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Our poll this fortnight focused on the inevitable increase in migrant workers brought about by the continued expansion of the EU. An overwhelming two-thirds of you (66 per cent) expressed some anxiety, citing the possible proliferation of unskilled foreign nationals entering the UK or the potential lack of jobs for those already living here, among other reasons, as the source of your fears.

Conversely, 34 per cent of you felt that both cultural and trade boundaries would be opened up by the expansion and that the pressure of a skills and workforce shortage would be alleviated. Either way, it is clear to see from the unprecedented response that it is a topic close to your heart.

Cultural difference has dominated the news of late. With this in mind I want to maintain an international focus following news that UK small businesses are missing out on an ocean of opportunity overseas, and ask what you think the main barriers to the global market are for SMEs. Is it simply that we lack the foreign language skills that many other nations foster from an early age? Do we want to expand abroad but feel tied to our island by European red tape and the difficulties this puts in our way? Are we an inward-looking nation and is this harming our business potential?

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