Keywords
Citation
(1999), "Trouble with foreign secretaries", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 23 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.1999.00323fab.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Trouble with foreign secretaries
Trouble with foreign secretaries
Keywords: European Union, Small- to medium-sized enterprises, Secretaries
A shortage of top business secretaries and receptionists in Europe is a major hurdle to businesses wanting to expand into other parts of the European Union.
In an independent survey of small- to medium-sized companies (SMEs) likely to set up offices in another EU country, 72 per cent of UK companies claimed that finding good quality secretaries would be the biggest problem they would face; with finding good quality receptionists a close second at 62 per cent.
The research was commissioned by Regus, the world's largest operator of fully serviced business centres. The data reveal that many small- to medium-sized companies across Europe are deterred from expanding abroad because of a shortage of people with these skills.
"It does not surprise me in the least that secretaries are top of the wanted list for European entrepreneurs", said Mark Dixon, executive chairman of Regus. "When you set up business in another country, it is vital to present the right image and ensure that your fundamental administration is always professional so that the executive staff can concentrate on sales. I would argue that this is often a make or break issue for infant businesses, and I am pleased to see that so many senior managers around Europe appreciate that secretaries and receptionists play a vital role in helping companies to grow."
Companies being interviewed were asked to rate how difficult they would find resolving several aspects of setting up an office overseas on a scale of one to ten, where ten represented a very serious barrier to doing so at all.
The research was carried out by BJM, part of an international group of research consultancies, who interviewed senior level managers in 253 SMEs across Europe.
A summary of the research is available from Regus, Knyvett House, The Causeway, Staines, Middlesex TW18 3BA. Tel: 01784 898222; Fax: 01784 898333.