Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the business case for equality and diversity in Small and Medium-Size Enterprises. Specifically, how business owners or managers manage equality and diversity challenges in their organisations. This research is of critical significance and it provides an analysis and evaluation of how effectively SMEs manage the diversity within their workforce. The main themes of Managing Diversity (MD) were analysed and the research questions were developed accordingly. About 100 small businesses were surveyed using questionnaires and primary data was collected from small businesses owners and managers within different sectors and from various locations in Wales. Data collected was analysed and evaluated using SPSS. Findings from the research suggest that white managers and business owners were more associated with negative attitudes towards equality and diversity in their organisations. Similarly, younger entrepreneurs, age 25 years and under were generally negative in their attitude towards equality and diversity challenges, equal opportunities practices and in their response to demographic changes. While, female managers were found to have more positive attitudes towards equality and diversity than their male counterparts. The findings from this study are unhealthy for SMEs in Wales and UK businesses in general. Lessons from the research suggest that extra efforts should be made to help entrepreneurs and managers as organisations seek to play a part in an attempt to build a society that is fair to all where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.