Employee suggestions boost business improvement, says survey
1 min read
The future is bright for employee suggestion schemes, it seems – almost half of UK manufacturing bosses questioned for a survey by Orange said they are turning to their employees for new ideas to improve the business.
The findings show 43% of manufacturers are innovating more than ever before. Almost half (46%) said they ask employees for ideas on new products and services – and 15% of manufacturing bosses surveyed said support staff regularly submit ideas to improve their business.
"There is a new connected culture of bosses asking their whole organisation for ideas," said Martin Stiven (pictured), vice president of business for Orange. "It is sweeping through British business and with fears of a double dip recession growing, new ideas are exactly what is needed to kick start the economy.
When asked why they approach employees for ideas, 32% said it was to gain a competitive advantage and 44% said it was to save costs.
On average, four employee suggestions were developed into new offerings over the past year – generating an extra £250,000 in profit over the same period for 33% of all businesses surveyed.
Just over 1,000 decision makers were surveyed, 46 of whom were from the manufacturing sector. Orange is offering a free guide which looks at the innovation secrets from some of the world's most imaginative organisations like 3M, LinkedIn and Innocent Drinks. To download it, go to www.orange.co.uk/innovation.
