'Better prospects' at smaller firms

Job-hunters seeking finance or marketing jobs at the sectors' big players may want to change their career criteria following a claim that better opportunities often exist at smaller firms.

According to the Employment Research Institute (ERI) at the University of Napier, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can provide a greater opportunity to influence company policy and take a leadership role.

Director of the ERI Professor Ronald McQuaid believes the main benefit for workers is "the ability to make a difference".

This includes "having a greater chance to convince the key decision makers to do something and not having to go through layers of managers […] to achieve this", according to Prof McQuaid.

He adds that opportunities for promotion are also greater at SMEs, which may make them an appealing prospect for those looking to guarantee career progression in marketing or accountancy jobs.

Statistics published by the UK from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform show that 4.5 million SMEs were in operation in the UK in 2007, accounting for over half of all UK employment and annual turnover.