# Careers Service

**Source**: https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/
**Parent**: https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/mgt/

[Skip to navigation](#navigation) | [Skip to main content](#content) | [Skip to footer](#footer)

[Home](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/)

# Careers Service

- [Explore options](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/options/)
- [Get experience](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/experience/)
- [Find jobs](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/)
- [Applications / interviews](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/applicationsinterviews/)
- [Appointments](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/appointments/)
- [Events](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/)
- [CareerConnect](https://careerconnect.manchester.ac.uk)
- [Further study and funding](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/study/)
- [International](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/)
- [For graduates](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/graduates/)
- [For recruiters](https://www.employers.manchester.ac.uk/)
- [About Us](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/)

---

## Finding work in a small or medium size business (SME)

### What is an SME?

It means small to medium-sized enterprise and usually encompasses those business that have under 250 employees.

### Why work for a small business?

Small businesses are generally less well known than the large organisations but there are many opportunities in the small business sector which provide great opportunities to gain experience and start your graduate career.

Many SME owner managers will want to recruit graduates and will be keen to identify potential leaders and senior managers of the future who can take the company forward. This often applies to family owned companies who do not have anyone in the family to pass the business on to, or perhaps they need a fresh pair of eyes and hands to move the company forward.

Either way, small businesses are increasingly interested in recruiting graduates and will offer great opportunities to progress for those that are successful in joining them and show potential to take on responsibility and seize opportunities to impress.

#### Find out more about working in a small business

- [What is an SME like?](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/prosandcons/) Weigh up the pros and cons.
- [Skills for SMEs](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/skills/) What are small businesses looking for?

### How and where to find opportunities

The Careers Service works with thousands of small businesses and advertises opportunities both within the UK and internationally. The following are great places to look for these opportunities:

- [CareerConnect](https://www.careerconnect.manchester.ac.uk/) Advertises hundreds of small business vacancies each year.
- [Manchester Graduate Talent (MGT)](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/mgt/) Helps final-year students and new graduates from The University of Manchester find jobs. Many MGT roles are within small businesses which can provide an excellent commercial experience upon which to build your career.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme helps businesses in the UK (including many small businesses) to innovate and grow. It does this by linking them with an academic or research organisation and a graduate. The scheme can last between 12 and 36 months, depending on what the project is and the needs of the business.

- [KTP jobs](https://iuk-ktp.org.uk/jobs/)

#### Apply speculatively

As small businesses do not usually recruit large numbers of employees, their recruitment practices tend to be a little more informal. They are often happy to receive speculative applications, you should consider networking to make contacts. [Get advice on networking.](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/job-search/networking/)

- [UK Small Business Directory](https://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk/) an extensive list of businesses searchable via location and category search.

### How to get the best out of working for a small business

- [Managing your SME experience](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/advice/)

> Of the 5.6m private sector businesses in the UK, SMEs account for c.99.8% of that total. In 2023, the total employment in SMEs was 16.7 million people, which was 61% of the total employment in the UK.

#### More about SMEs

- [Managing your SME experience](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/advice/)

- [What is an SME like?](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/prosandcons/)

- [Skills for SMEs](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/graduatejobs/smallbusiness/skills/)

#### Contact us

- [Getting in touch](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/)
- .

#### Find us

[Careers Service, The University of Manchester](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus)

#### Connect with us

- [Disclaimer](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/disclaimer/)
- [Data Protection](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/privacy-information/data-protection/)
- [Copyright notice](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/copyright/)
- [Web Accessibility](https://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/accessibility-statement/)
- [Freedom of information](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/privacy-information/freedom-information/)
- [Charitable status](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/governance/charitable-status/)
- Royal charter number: RC000797