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Apprentice Winner Tim Campbell Highlights Reasons for SMEs to be Optimistic Ahead of the Spring Budget

Nearly half of British businesses still find themselves in survival mode. However, nearly two thirds of SME owners are feeling positive about the next six months.
Celebrities, Finance - 15 March 2011   Download IconContent available for download:  
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New research highlights that 43% of British businesses find themselves in survival mode. Although one in five admit that they are not doing as well as they had hoped so far this year, nearly two thirds (58%) of SME owners are positive about how their business will fare over the next six months.

Business optimism has encouraged survival through difficult times for business, growth is now urgent according to the Government. They pledge to use next weeks Budget to encourage growth given that the economy staggered into reverse gear towards the close of 2010. British business owners are demanding flexibility and freedom to reflect the constant need for them to adapt to change and grow.

With this in mind, the research reveals that a number of local businesses are only planning ahead for the next six months. Over two-thirds (69%) are looking at least six months ahead, compared to one in ten (10%) who do not plan at all. The recession has heralded the arrival of thousands of kitchen table entrepreneurs, setting up small businesses in response to redundancy which might explain why over a fifth (21%) of business owners surveyed have never made a business plan.

. Introduction:

While theres been talk of green shoots and an economic upturn, a new survey has revealed that small business owners in the UK remain in survival mode. Ahead of next weeks Budget announcement, nearly two thirds of business owners are positive about how they will fare in the next six months however, its growth rather than survival thats now urgent according to the Government.

So, just how can we change the mindset of our local business owners from survival to growth?

Joining us in the studio to discuss this further is small business guru and winner of The Apprentice, Tim Campbell.

. Suggested Questions:

What does your research tell us about small businesses in our area?

What changes are small businesses set to face following this years budget announcement?

Why should business owners see this difficult period as an opportunity rather than a challenge?

And why is SME growth now so important for the economy?

What advice do you have for business owners in our area?

Where should listeners go for more information?