There is a fascination in politics and in the public debate with 'things' - primary production, manufacturing, computer technology (most notably apps, which also fall into the category of 'things'). In the national accounts, services which do not involve the transfer of a physical object are referred to as 'invisibles'. Despite the fact that services make up around 80% of the nation's economy, they are still regarded in some ways as not quite real.
This is particularly a problem for business services, which are a relatively new entrant into the world of commerce. Based on the most recent study for the BSA, the business services sector makes up around 9% of the national economy and account for more than 10% of the nation's jobs, with turnover valued at £263 billion.117
Because they provide support to other firms and to government departments and agencies, business services are even more invisible than other parts of the services sector, such as financial services, education or social care, where the public interacts with providers face to face.
The industry needs to develop strategies to make it more visible to policymakers and the general public, and in this it will find common cause with the rest of the business services sector. The Julius Review into the 'public service industry' was established by the Business Secretary in 2007 with this in mind, but of course, one government report was never going to be enough.