Employees in the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses believe that technological advances have made their jobs more interesting, according to new findings.
Almost 45% of employees believe that their jobs have become more varied in the last ten years because of the influence of IT, according to research from BT Business, and 41% credit IT with making their jobs more interesting.
Smaller firms have also seen an increase in productivity as a result of technology, the research suggests, with 69% of employees and 71% of employers agreeing that IT enables them to work faster than ever before.
Colin Mattey, director IT manager, BT Business, commented:
“On average, owner managers spend £17,000 a year on their IT and communications. Investment in technology is essential to enable long-term business growth, as well as ensuring tangible benefits for staff.”
He added that “a comprehensive and well managed IT system can enable a business to plan ahead for growth and development”.
Skills are also being developed by workers in smaller firms in order to keep up with IT advances. Half of employees questioned who had been in their jobs for at least ten years agreed that they had had to develop new skills, suggesting it is this that keeps working in the same role interesting and varied.
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