The Business Bulletin
SME Survey What does your turnover and profit look like over the last year and looking to the next?
Figure 1
Figure 2
At the time of writing, the UK has
in 20 businesses didn’t know their
been in the grips of COVID-19
performance! Although, reassuringly no
for 21 months and this has had
one was unsure in the current survey).
significant impact on the economy. This survey looks at historic performance and future predictions of those that completed the survey (45 respondents). It is open to interpretation as to the reason for growth, stagnation or decline via the answers, as no further information was gleaned at the time. When asked about performance over the last 12 months, 51.1% had experienced growth 31.1% a decline, with the balance, 17.8%, staying the same (see figure 1). Compared to a survey taken in September 2020, this is a fairly similar result on the historic performance at that time: growth 54%, decline 21.7%, same 19.1% and 5.2% unsure (a tad worrying that 1
Looking at the prediction from that
Figure 3
Get involved To take part in the next survey
time, there is some similarity with the
about marketing spend –
current results: growth 51.1%, decline
visit here: https://forms.gle/
8.5%, same 25.5% and 14.9% unsure
TdYc7BHX3px9jFgd9. The
but with a more optimistic outlook
results will be shared in the next
than now; albeit different respondents
edition of this magazine.
– so no direct correlation. Taking a look at the future outlook this time around on turnover (profit), this was the outcome: growth 68.9% (66.6%), decline 13.3% (15.6%), same 15.6% (11.1%) and 2.2% (6.7%) unsure (see figures 2 & 3). So despite what has been thrown at small businesses in recent times, there still seems to be a positive view on what is ahead. This is encouraging as SMEs represent a significant contribution to UK plc!
Issue 17 – Finance | 41
