Small Businesses In The UK Grow At Fastest Pace In Five Years

Britain’s small businesses grew solidly over the last three months, according to the latest small business index from the Federation of Small Business (FSB). The strong improvement in small business confidence suggests the sector will continue to grow this year. 

In the study, published on 22 June 2015, the FSB found that 65.3% of small businesses surveyed are striving to increase their business remotely or rapidly between June and September 2015. This is excellent news for London IT support companies. 

The lobby group’s small business index suggested that there has been a “robust” improvement in confidence, which pushed up productivity, job creation and investment at a faster rate than in the economy as a whole. 

It said growth and investment intentions had reached new highs since it began compiling its index in 2010.

It also said it had found a “few negatives” in the overall picture. The gains were to spread evenly over the UK, however — by far the highest concentration of growing small business were found in the South East of England, followed by the Midlands. In Wales confidence and employment fell, and Scotland also reported lower business confidence. 

John Allan, the FSB national chairman, said: "The results... are very positive and show the major role that small businesses play in the growth of the UK's economy. It is critical the new government continues to develop the right environment to support businesses planning to grow, invest and take on new staff in the next 12 months. In the Budget and its upcoming Enterprise Bill, ministers should prioritise supporting small business growth, simplify business taxes, raise skills and tackle poor payment practices.”

The UK government is working on an Enterprise Bill, which it hopes will make the UK a leading place to set up and expand small businesses, including IT support companies in London, and should create two million jobs between 2015 and 2020. This is just one of many initiatives that the government are planning to implement for businesses in the next five years. 

360ict provides managed IT services and emergency IT support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

What Does A Tory Majority Government Mean For Small Businesses?

The UK has been up in arms over the Conservative win, however it might not be all bad: their small business manifesto has been welcomed by many entrepreneurs as well as the promise of a stable government. Here’s what SMEs across the UK can expect to happen over the next five years:

The Conservatives have won the 2015 General Election and are forming a single party government. Not only is this result a surprise, it has been received with mixed reviews and a minority have taken to the streets to protest. Business owners, however, have high hopes for the next five years. Conservatives have repeatedly described SMEs as “the lifeblood of the economy."

The Conservative’s small business manifesto pledges to increase the number of startups to 600,000 a year by 2020. Business owners will also be hoping that unnecessary, time consuming and costly regulations and paper work will be slashed under the full Tory government. So far the Conservatives have pledged to reduce such regulations and save businesses £10bn over the next five years.

Many employers want greater flexibility in hiring and firing decisions, with a reduced risk of being taken to an employment tribunal. The previously overruled Beecroft report looks likely to be implemented now that the Liberal Democrats can’t stand in the way. It suggests a shakeup of employment legislation and the proposal to allow employers to make no-fault dismissals.

Europe. The in/out referendum. It’s an issue that divides SMEs: Many business owners who have offices or clients in Europe are worried that changes to the UK’s EU membership will make it harder to access the European market. Change and uncertainty on this level is unnerving for everyone involved.

Late payment remains a big issue for businesses. The Conservatives have promised to strengthen the prompt payment code and improve transparency. The Tories have also pledged to invest £100bn in infrastructure during this parliament with high profile projects such as HS2 and proposed airport expansion in the South East.

Business owners can expect George Osborne to implement a bunch of new changes in regard to tax, including increases in personal allowances, national insurance holidays, a cut in corporation tax and a freeze on VAT. There’s also a plan to review business rates.

UK business owners impact jobs, exports, investment and tax revenues and are crucial to our nation’s success. For our country’s economy to grow, SMEs will play a big part in making that happen therefore further financial assistance should become available.

On the whole it seems that a Conservative win will massively benefit business owners, but as always with politics, we shall wait and see whether they can deliver on any of their promises.

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including London Victoria, Euston, Bromley and Croydon. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or contact us via our website.