Issue date: 29 April 2002

Contact:
Amanda Fisher, citib@se 020 7808 7444
Alex Kane, Spada 020 7269 1430

Small business owners need more support to achieve work/life balance

citib@se, leading serviced office operator has announced the results of its recent survey into the holiday habits of small business proprietors.

The results indicate that many entrepreneurs still find it hard to balance the demands of work and home: nearly half of the small business owners and managers surveyed in the admitted to 'just popping in' to the office on up to five of their days off last year. Many also mentioned examples of important events they had missed through work, including weekends away, weddings, skiing holidays and one respondent who missed the birth of a child.

The survey also reveals that many proprietors try to shoulder more of the burden than they place on their staff, with 63% of the sample stating that they take fewer holidays than their employees.

Most manage to set aside at least a week for holidays, 22% plan to take 6-10 days holiday in 2002, and 30% 16-20 days.

David Joseph, director of citib@se commented, "We carried out our survey because it is very important to us to understand the needs of small businesses. The responses indicate that while many are achieving a decent work/life balance, there are occasions when the business takes priority. Professional support services, like those in serviced offices, can take some of the pressure off those running small and medium sized businesses, which means they can concentrate on growing the business and taking time out when they need to."

Notes for Editors
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Fisher (corporate) citib@se plc 120 Wilton Road London SW1V 1JZ Tel: 020 7808 7444 Fax: 020 7808 7028		Alex Kane (press) Lion House 72-75 Red Lion Street London WC1R 4NA Tel: 020 7269 1430 Fax: 020 7269 1440
Editors’ Notes • citib@se manages a fast-growing, national network of business centres. It operates centres nationwide in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester, Bewdley, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Kenilworth. • citib@se operates business centres with five-star service and state-of-the-art telecommunications technology. The offices provide an environment that previously had only been available to large, well-established companies. Should you require any further information please contact: Lisa Watson citib@se plc Vigilant House 120 Wilton Road London SW1V 1JZ Tel: 020 7808 7006 Fax: 020 7808 7028 Email: lisawatson@citibase.co.uk