More than 99 per cent of businesses in the UK employ fewer than 250 people. These are classed as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (micro-SMEs). Since 2010, the number of micro-SMEs in the UK has grown by more than one million.
Many of them, however, do not have the capacity or resources of the larger businesses to be able to focus on safety, health and wellbeing, or have access to specialist support. These small organisations are a priority for the OSH Alliance.
When it comes to mental health, there is a clear issue. According to a 2022 survey of SME business leaders by consultants HR Solutions, mental health was high on the list of issues keeping them awake at night. Of those surveyed, 85 per cent said it was their biggest health and safety challenge.16
