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News
Short skirts and open tops head fashion flops
Men who undo one button too many on range of organisations from the Federation of Image Consultants (MFIC) and
their shirts and women who don see- accountancy, manufacturing, legal, leading image consultant for Colour Me
through blouses are guilty of the biggest financial and retail sectors. Beautiful, says: ‘your image at work can
office fashion crimes, according to a survey. AFR Consulting director Simon have an impact on your job prospects and
61 per cent of 584 UK financial professionals Speak said: ‘Some people make or break your career.
surveyed in the office fashion report conducted have a slightly more adventur- ‘One of the deadly sins is showing too
by North West financial recruitment specialist, ous dress sense than others, much flesh. Whether male or female,
AFR Consulting, said they find revealing cloth- but respondents to our survey young or old, covering up, even in the
ing the biggest office fashion faux pas. delivered a resounding “no” to summertime, is of prime importance. Your
The survey also revealed that ‘dress down revealing clothes at work. professionalism and the respect you’ve
Fridays’ and similar casual initiatives could be ‘In the professional office environ- gained over a period of time can be dam-
‘so yesterday’, with 58 per cent of respondents ment it seems directors and man- aged should you succumb to dressing
preferring more traditional office wear at work, agers still like to dress smartly, down and baring all. If you’re female,
such as suits, shirts, blouses and ties. preferring business suits and ties, the guys don’t know where to look.
This was despite a massive 81 per cent of even over the slightly more casual Well, actually, they do – but it’s not at
organisations revealing they had introduced a look of trousers and unbuttoned their computer keyboard. For the guys,
dress down day or similar policy at work, sug- shirts. Despite this, 81 per cent of let’s keep any hairy bits out of sight –
gesting bosses are themselves following a respondents said their company apart from those on your head and fore-
social trend. now had a dress down policy. arms of course.’
Adventurous wardrobe
‘Judging from the results of the As well as revealing clothes, other office
survey, fashion continues to be a fashion pet hates, according to the survey,
The report by AFR Consulting questioned hotly-debated topic in offices included jeans, sportswear and tank tops.
company directors, financial directors, man- throughout the UK.’
agers and other finance professionals in a Cliff Bashforth, a Master of the
SMEs in London and South East failing
to take up government funding
An independent poll conducted on behalf of Ixion has revealed ‘The Government has committed itself to the UK’s long term skills
that a staggering 85% of SMEs across London and the South needs to achieve a world-class skills profile by 2020. This research high-
East have lost-out on government funding available for their lights that SMEs need to take some responsibility for making contact
businesses to invest in training. with organisations such as Ixion, which provides a gateway for busi-
The shocking results of the poll could partly be put down to a need nesses and individuals to access public funds, and ensures that they
for more positive action from the SME business base in response to get directed to, and benefit from, appropriate business support spe-
contact from government-funded brokerage services. cialists and the skills training that they are entitled to.’
Graham Baker concludes: ‘Businesses need to understand that
Missed out
government-funded services such as Business Link, Train to Gain and
The poll, conducted among businesses with fewer than 250 em- the Ixion-run Advantage East are in existence to help and advise them
ployees, found that 81% of respondents said that their business had on business growth and workforce development training. This support
carried out some form of staff training in the past, yet a worrying 71% is particularly important given the current economic climate, where a
had not taken any positive steps to capitalise on a minimum of £1,500 trained workforce can give a competitive edge.’
in government funding available to them for training. On contact, the Ixion research discovered that an incredible 96% of
Graham Baker, CEO of Ixion, commented: ‘In an increasingly chal- respondents said they would like to learn more about regional govern-
lenging business environment, investment in training is critical. These ment funded schemes such as Ixion’s Train to Gain and Business Link.
are worrying statistics. With over half a million* SMEs in London and the
South East of England, businesses must realise that they can benefit *According to Business Link, in 2006 there were 202,580 companies
from the government funding available to access appropriate training in the East of England and 304,090 companies in London with fewer
to enhance their businesses, and in turn increase their competitive than 250 employees.
advantage in the marketplace.
Business Matters issue 164 • 7
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