Growing confidence from UK small businesses generates renewed protection opportunities for advisers

• Confidence from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) now at a three-year high¹
• Nearly two in five (38%) employers see the value of Group Life Protection as an essential part of their employee benefits package, rising from 31% in 2011²
• On average nearly one in five (19%) SMEs are taking on more staff compared to 12 months ago³
• Legal & General and unbiased.co.uk highlight employee protection gap as part of their ‘Every Business Matters, Every Employee Matters’ campaign #everybizmatters

The Legal & General / unbiased.co.uk ‘Every Business Matters’ campaign reveals rising SME confidence is presenting advisers with renewed opportunities to contact their business clients about their protection needs.

A burgeoning SME market

Building on the ‘Every Business Matters’ campaign, launched in May this year, research shows the UK’s SME sector is emerging from the recession with confidence now at a three year high and nearly three quarters (72%)⁴ of UK SMEs reported profits in the last financial year.  In addition, almost three quarters of all SME employers generated a profit in the last financial year⁵ highlighting an opportunity for advisers to get back in touch with their SME client base to review plans and discuss putting protection provisions in place. 

The campaign reveals employers are placing more emphasis on the value of Group Protection – nearly two in five (38%) saw Group Life Protection as an essential part of their benefits package for staff, compared to 31% in 2011⁶, while nearly one in five (17%) employers offering Group Income Protection as part of their staff benefits package say they recoup the cost in improved employee morale and productivity⁷.

But the strength of the sector is not just being driven from the bottom line, nearly one in five (19%) SMEs are building their business and employing more staff than 12 months ago.  While the biggest reason for recruitment is to replace an employee (59%) nearly half (48%) of SMEs recruited to cope with an increased workload and nearly a third (30%) were recruiting for a specific job role⁸.

Clare Harrop, Head of Specialist Protection at Legal & General:  “Being profitable is only a small part of what small businesses need to think about as they look to grow themselves out of the recession.  Good talent is invaluable, and critical to a well-run business, which means owners have to offer value not only in the role or salary they offer, but also in the protection and benefits they provide staff.  We are seeing a big gap in the market for advisers to start these conversations.

“Legal & General has seen strong demand for protection products from small businesses.  Advisers can now get quick quotes online for Group Protection schemes insuring 10-150 staff, for as little as 0.5% of payroll.  Our Relevant Life Plan (RLP) is a tax efficient individual Death in Service benefit, ideal for Directors and other employees of smaller, micro businesses. RLPs can also be used in conjunction with group schemes to top up a short fall in cover for high earners.”

Karen Barrett, Chief Executive of unbiased.co.uk, comments: “The introduction of auto-enrolment has placed further emphasis on the benefits an employer offers.  This is presenting huge opportunities for advisers to speak to clients about their overall business protection and employee benefit needs.  Our ‘Every Business Matters, Every Employee Matters’ campaign is about raising awareness of the growing SME protection market and the discussions advisers could be having with clients to discuss issues affecting their businesses.”

To find out more about the ‘Every Business Matters, Every Employee Matters’campaign go to: www.unbiased.co.uk/every-business-matters or follow the campaign using #everybizmatters.

To find a local professional adviser go to: www.unbiased.co.uk.

Legal & General’s business protection adviser site: www.legalandgeneral.com/business

Legal & General’s Group Protection adviser site: http://www.legalandgeneral.com/workplacebenefits/advisers/protection/

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Source FSB Voice Small Business Index Q2 2013
2. Source GRiD Research Summary of Key Findings Employer Research 2012
3. Source Small Business Survey Employer Report section 4 Business Performance
4. Source Small Business Survey 2012 Employers April 2013
5. Source GRiD Research Summary of Key Findings Employer Research 2012
6. Source Group Risk Development (GRID) 2012 Employee Research
7. Source The Open University Business School Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Great Britain
8. Source The OU Business School – Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain, Q2 2013

‘Every Employee Matters’ is a joint campaign by Legal & General and unbiased.co.uk, which aims to raise awareness about the UK’s employee protection gap and highlight the importance of employee benefits for businesses. 

For more information contact:

Anna Schirmer/ Lisa Grando/ Kate Aitchison, Lansons Communications: 020 7294 3682

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