Enterprise Boom as Small Companies Thrive

The number of active small and medium enterprises in the UK reached a six-year high of 2.2 million following two successive years of growth

Emma Wall 17 December, 2013 | 4:45PM
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Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking in Britain. The number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has reached a six year high, finally recovering from the global recession. 

There are now 2.16 million SMEs in the UK, a six year high according to the SME Growth Monitor from the National Association for Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB).

Following the global recession in 2008, Britain lost 80,615 small businesses across the sectors. But since 2011 there has been a boom in nine out of 10 industries, far outpacing their large cap peers. Only construction and wholesale continue to see small businesses going under. Professional, scientific and technical industries saw the largest growth in the number of small businesses.

In part this growth is down to the improved access to bank lending as well as alternative sources of capital such as venture capital and private equity firms.

Stuart Veale, of venture capital firm Beringea said: “SMEs are becoming more confident about the economic outlook and are increasingly turning to VCTs to raise capital to finance their growth, particularly given the continued reluctance of banks to lend to smaller companies.”

It is not all good news however. According to personal asset lender Borro, one in 10 small businesses have come close to closing over the past 12 months, thanks to lack of investment.

Not being able to access capital has meant that 8% smaller companies have missed payments to suppliers, and 7% have missed tax payments. Lack of investment has meant 4% have had to make redundancies in the last year.

Adam Tyler, chief executive of the NACFB said that more work must be done to support SMEs to ensure more even growth across geographical regions.

“Uneven growth across the British Isles still shows more work needs to be done to support the revival of small business fortunes,” he said. “SMEs in England and Scotland have benefitted from innovative business lending, which has increased the mix of commercial finance available to entrepreneurs. Commercial brokers can often unlock new routes to funding on a local level, and a renewed commitment from lenders in Wales and Northern Ireland can satisfy regional appetite for investment to kick-start their SME recovery.”

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Emma Wall  is former Senior International Editor for Morningstar

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