And the Big Strides in Small Business Award goes to…

As small businesses nationwide report increased hiring plans, CareerBuilder recognizes three in particular that have shown remarkable growth.

Today, CareerBuilder announced Chicago-based legal software company kCura as the winner of its first annual Big Strides in Small Business Award. Chosen among more than 100 nominees across the U.S., kCura was recognized for its outstanding efforts to reskill workers for new job opportunities and make a positive impact on its community.

Top companies prioritize employee recognition, community service
In 11 years, kCura has grown from a small consulting firm to a legal software company with 250 employees and more than 60,000 active users worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Justice.  From state-of-the-art technology and annual training stipends to frequent social outings and fitness programs, kCura prides itself on being a great place to work.  Among the many employee development opportunities kCura offers is kCura Univesrity, a one-year, comprehensive onboarding program for all new employees. kCura also invests heavily in its local community, supporting primary and secondary education in Chicago.

CareerBuilder also recognized Ontraport and CivicPlus as distinguished finalists in the competition. Both companies have experienced significant growth in the past year, with plans to add more staff in the coming year, and invest heavily in both their employees and the communities they serve.

Launched in 2006 with only three partners, Ontraport now operates with a full-time staff of 30, creating integrated technology platforms for businesses. The Santa Barbara-based company is committed not only to nurturing the success of its employees, but of other small businesses as well: The company’s CEO provides pro bono business coaching for small business owners.

Based in Manhattan, Kan., CivicPlus operates with a staff of 120 employees to provide community engagement and government website solutions for more than 1,100 local government entities throughout the U.S., Canada and Australia. Innovation is at the core of both the employee experience and charitable giving at CivicPlus: The company regularly encourages employees to come up with new business ideas, and often participates in Hackathon contests to provide free community website redesigns.

Learn more about the Big Strides in Small Business Award winners.

Small businesses nationwide increase hiring, survey shows
America’s small businesses in general deserve a major pat on the back these days. According to CareerBuilder’s latest survey, small businesses with 250 or fewer employees are reporting stronger sales and increased hiring plans. Among the survey’s over 1,000 small business participants…

• 32 percent said their sales increased over the last two quarters
• 46 percent expect sales to increase over the next two quarters
• 19 percent added full-time, permanent employees over the last two quarters
• 24 percent expect to add full-time, permanent employees over the next two quarters

Small businesses are also playing a key role in retraining workers and reducing the talent deficit in the U.S. In another recent CareerBuilder study…

• 40 percent of small businesses with 250 or fewer employees reported they have action plans in place to help alleviate the gap between high-demand positions and the amount of skilled workers available to fill those jobs
• 51 percent plan to train workers who do not have experience in their industry or field, and hire them

“While still cautious, the increased sales and hiring activity among small businesses bodes well for where the market is headed,” said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America, in a statement for the press release.

“Through our Big Strides in Small Business Award, we’re recognizing the critical impact small businesses have on fueling the economy, bridging the skills gap and getting America back to work.  We see so many small businesses like kCura, Ontraport and CivicPlus making a big difference.”

May 23, 2012 Mary Lorenz