Owners and senior managers of small companies do not see environmental issues as a key challenge to their businesses in the coming years, according to a report by international business coaching organisation Shirlaws. 

It found that only 7% of all respondents put ‘reducing environmental impact’ in their top five choices and 3% of owners, partners, MDs, CEOs and chairmen chose it as a top five issue.

The report found that 10% of respondents thought that ‘having a clear environmental stance’ would help them recruit and retain talent. Although this rose to 13.4% of Generation-X, aged 25-41, and dropped to 8% of Baby-boomers, aged 42-60.

The biggest business challenges in the next five years listed by respondents to the survey were recruiting and retaining talent (62%), increasing efficiency (46%) and finding new customers (36%).