ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to provide some insight into business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. Businesses are essential for wealth creation whether they are large or small businesses, and most if not all large businesses were once small businesses. They contribute to society by creating work and that work is undertaken in return for payment, and so the income generated is not just for company owners or directors or even the shareholders. So the goal of business management is to create wealth for business owners by providing some value that consumers need. The growth of the Commercial and Independent
Special Interest Group of the CIEH (so that its membership is numerically larger than some regions) is also an indication of the valuable role of EHPs outside the local government enforcement role. Although EHPs in local government will largely
deal with small and medium-sized enterprises, they will also have dealings with larger companies in the retail and leisure sectors and some larger businesses regulated under the environmental permitting regime. Furthermore, it is increasingly obvious that EHPs are finding direct employment with businesses and as consultants, working as environmental advisers, or to ensure compliance with food or occupational health and safety legislation, or even to help with corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is where
the operator or management understands the impact of the business on the wider world and takes account of how this impact can be used in a positive way.1
