Almost a third of SMEs fearful of immediate economic uncertainty, survey reveals
More than a quarter (27%) of SMEs view economic uncertainty as their primary concern, with their overall confidence having fallen to a four-year low. This is according to Lloyds Bank’s latest Business in Britain report; so why are companies bracing themselves for the worst?
SMEs’ funding requests highlight importance of prompt payments
SMEs seem to be undeterred by Brexit uncertainty as the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) records a sudden increase in funding enquiries during August. While the numbers are encouraging, could they suggest that small businesses are opening themselves up to repayment problems further down the line?
SME owners' confidence plummets post-Brexit, index reveals
The number of SME owners feeling confident about the outlook for the economy and their own businesses over the next 12 months has sharply dropped. This is according to the latest quarterly Smith & Williamson Enterprise Index, which suggests that small businesses have largely responded unfavourably to Brexit. Could there, however, still be a chink of light at the end of the tunnel?
UK SMEs not ready for new EU data laws
In April 2016, the European Parliament voted to update the EU’s general data protection regulation (GDPR), with organisations in the member states given two years to comply. Two months later, financial services group Close Brothers found 82% of UK SMEs surveyed are not prepared for the new legislation. If the UK stays in the EU, what would GDPR mean for Britain’s small businesses?
Late payments among the main barriers to SME growth, survey reveals
Late payments remain one of the main challenges facing SMEs, a new poll by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has revealed. To what extent do delayed payments continue to hamper commercial success, and can anything be done to prevent them?
EU referendum exposing UK SMEs to currency swings
Currency transfer specialist World First has speculated currency swings caused by the EU referendum could affect up to £35.6 billion of UK SMEs’ international payments. How can small businesses prepare for the uncertainty ahead?
UK SMEs under possible threat from data breaches
In its recent “SMEs Under Threat” study, financial information provider Experian UK has revealed that British SMEs are unclear about the risks and subsequent costs of a possible breach. Do the findings suggest that small businesses are unprepared for the growing threat of cybercrime?
UK SMEs remain optimistic despite possible EU exit
British SMEs are optimistic of increasing sales in the coming months, according to the recent SME Confidence Tracker from invoice finance experts Bibby Financial Services (BFS). However, the research also revealed that concern remains among SMEs over how an EU exit would shape their country’s economic climate. Looking ahead, what are the potential implications for UK SMEs?