Understanding Health

Increasing speculation about the development of a wide range of Innovative Health Technologies (IHTs), such as genetics, imaging technologies, telemedicine, foetal surgery and cloning, provides the impetus for the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC's) five year IHT Programme due to begin next year. IHTs can bring change not only to health, medicine and clinical practice, but to people and society more broadly. IHTs also raise important social, cultural, ethical, economic and political issues that merit thorough investigation from within the social sciences. The Programme will provide a wider perspective on IHTs than that provided by other current research that explores these technologies from a clinical or bioethical perspective. Contributions will be required from a broad range of social science disciplines.

Future of Work

What are the nation's prospects for work and employment? What does the future hold for the world of work? Mounting speculation surrounds the future prospects for employment, work organisations, job security and economic prosperity. The ESRC's five-year £4 million Future of Work Research Programme explores work and employment with a view to improve the quality of the nation's social and economic life. The research programme will aim to supplant speculation with a rigorous mapping and understanding of changes in employment.

Green Purchasing

A study of corporate procurement policies by the ESRC's Global Environmental Change (GEC) programme shows that when an organization decides to become environmentally-friendly there is scope to do far more than put its own house in order. Water, electricity, gas and telecommunications supplier United Utilities is committed to safeguarding the environment and, to this end, is currently transforming its entire procurement process.

Last year United Utilities, a founder member of the Environmental Supply Chain Forum, identified its most environmentally significant products and services. The company established teams including buyers, specifiers, environmental managers, manufacturers and logistics staff to identify actions that could be taken to reduce the adverse impacts of these products and services. For example, United Utilities spends £600,000 per annum on tyres and associated services but is still a small player in the market with little influence on product development. The company now selects the manufacturer/supplier with the best environmental credentials including provision for the re-use/recycling of used tyres. As a result, United Utilities now has assurance of the end-life disposal of its tyres and is soon to trial the use of 'fuel efficient' tyres.

Retailers Can Relax - Britons Have a Social Need to Shop

A study by University College London has found that 'teleshopping' presents no immediate threat to traditional shopping methods. Shopping from the comfort of one's own living room still holds less appeal than the Saturday morning struggle with heavy bags and surly shop assistants. The research shows that people like to shop with family or friends and for some, even minimal contact with the cashier at the check-out is a very important social interaction.

Too Much too Young: Why Most Small Firms Fail Within Two Years

Recently completed ESRC-funded research at Warwick Business School, has identified a number of important causes of early business failure. The research confirms findings from around the world that the rate of new business failure is almost a universal constant. But it has also established some of the hard facts that lead to many new enterprises dying young, including rapid growth, undercapitalisation, entrepreneurs' lack of experience and management skills, and pure chance, such as the unforeseen closure of a key customer or supplier.

The research results have important implications for policy towards small firms. A more liberal approach to bankruptcy and insolvency among small firms could be adopted in line with American practice. The significant role of chance in small business failure means that arguably such closures are without blame. Currently, great social stigma is attached to business failure. Bankruptcy law could be made more 'open-minded'. Equally, if human capital plays such an important role in firms dying at an early age, then money without human resources is useless. Throwing money at the problem is not a suitable response.