the business ladder

Orange, the telecom provider, has conducted a study that has found that three quarters of small businesses are optimistic for the outlook in 2011.

Of those surveyed, more than a quarter of SMEs plan to recruit more employees in 2011 than they did in the current year.

In addition, out of the 2,100 companies who took part in the Orange study, 74% said they would consider introducing flexible working practices next year, with the goal of increasing efficiency.

In order to aid the shift to flexible working, 52% of the firms surveyed said they planned to invest more in information technology, for example communications equipment for ‘remote’ working such as mobile WiFi.

Small businesses also indicated a commitment to invest  more next year in social media and business applications.

Over three quarters of those businesses polled by Orange thought that economic conditions would either remain the same or improve in 2011.

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