Larger companies are more likely to cite a lack of funds or lack of local training provision as a barrier to training than smaller companies.

• Local provision is a barrier for fewer than 10% of micro-businesses and sole traders, although funding is more of an issue for sole traders. For those who experienced a lack of training availability, 13% were rural and 12% were urban.
• Funding is cited as a barrier by fewer than 30% of companies and local availability of courses by fewer than 20% of companies. Of those companies finding funding a barrier to training, 27% were rurally based and 22% were located in an urban area.
• A lack of time for training is an issue for 33% of English companies, and 28% of Welsh companies, but only 5% of Scottish companies.

Source: GoSkills Skills Needs Assessment (stage 1) 2006a