Staff shortages and the supply chain continue to trouble small business

By Éilis Cronin in Industry News 3rd December 2021

More than two-thirds of businesses think that staff shortages and supply chain problems are going to affect Christmas, according to a survey.

Research by card payments specialist Takepayments Limited found that 67% of those surveyed think that these problems are going to affect customers, with the food and drink sector highlighted as one that is particularly vulnerable.

The company surveyed 520 small and medium-sized businesses and found that 52% had experienced supply chain issues this year, while 41% had faced staff shortages.

Almost half (48%) said that the combination of these two factors had already had a damaging financial effect on their business.

Those surveyed said that they would like to see tax breaks (41%), paid training (26%), specific small business support (25%), army involvement to plug gaps such as fuel deliveries (23%) and emergency visas (23%) to help solve the problems.