All work and no play for UK's farmers

Hitachi’s new research shows that whether by choice or compulsion, many of the UK’s small businesses will not be taking a break away from the office. Half of those (50%) in the agricultural sector took fewer than five days’ holiday last year, with just over a quarter (28%) saying they took none at all. After this, the next most likely to have taken a maximum of five days’ leave were those in the retail sector (38%) or the legal professions (22%).

More than a quarter of female small business owners (27%), took a maximum of 5 days’ leave, compared with 23% of male bosses. Men were also more likely to take more than 30 days’ holiday than women (14% vs. 11%).

Small businesses in the North took fewer days than their southern counterparts, according to the results. Almost three in ten northern small enterprise owners (29%) took fewer than five days’ leave, compared with 24% of those based in the South. In London this figure dropped again to 19%.

By specific region, businesses in the North East were the least likely to take annual leave – 41% of bosses took less than five days’ leave. This was followed by 28% of bosses in the North West.

At the other end of the scale, there were those that did take their annual leave allowance as planned. More than two in five Scottish small businesses (41%), a third of those based in the West Midlands (35%), and 28% of company owners in the capital all took more than 26 days’ holiday last year.