South: 30% ‘to work from home’ during Olympics
Companies across the UK – not just those in London and the South East – are worried about the impact the Olympic Games will have on their business, according to figures by RSM Tenon, the UK’s seventh largest accountancy and professional services firm.
The Business Barometer, an independent survey of 300 entrepreneurs found that 24 per cent of companies in Northern England are concerned about the effects of transport issues and staff holidays over the Olympic period, as are 14% of Scottish businesses. In the Midlands, a quarter (24 per cent) of all businesses polled expressed concern about the potential disruption.
The survey also shows that while it may be expected that businesses around London are arranging for staff to work from home during the event, businesses elsewhere in the UK are also putting contingency plans in place. In the north of England, 11% of companies are planning to allow staff to work from home, as are 10% of Scottish companies and 21% in the Midlands. This compares to 30% of firms in the South.
John Abbott, director of Risk Advisory Services at RSM Tenon, said: “The Olympics will have a far wider reach than many people expect, and one way or the other will affect the whole country. Businesses need to put contingency plans in place in case of temporary disruption to and from suppliers and clients and possible drops in productivity due to increased staff absences.
"There is an immediate need to assess what possible business risks the Games may cause. The event is exceptional in terms of scale, global interest, risk and opportunity. Businesses need to treat it accordingly and be as prepared as possible.”
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