Management skills gap is holding back smaller businesses

A lack of proper management training is holding back senior decision-makers working for smaller businesses in Scotland, according to a new survey.

The poll of managers and directors found that they felt unprepared for taking on responsibilities for managing people, budgets and major projects at an early stage in their careers.

Some 87 per of those surveyed by East Kilbride-based business management software company Mindgenius said they thought employers could do more to equip their staff with management training and skills and a similar number said the Scottish Government should place greater importance on business management education.

Ashley Marron, chief executive officer of Mindgenius, said businesses tended to place a high level of importance on technical ability but significantly less on management skills.

“The reality, in most industries, is that people who demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency are invari- ably placed in management roles for which they are illequipped,” he said.

“Suddenly they find themselves having to plan, make strategic decisions, manage people and balance budgets, none of which they have been trained to do. Other countries see business management as an essential discipline while, for many of our companies, it’s an afterthought.”

Ashley Marron: ‘Business management afterthought’