FINANCE
Business optimism is high despite challenging months ahead, finds Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner, Kreston Reeves
SHAPING YOUR FUTURE The business environment has never been so uncertain. The impact of the global pandemic and Brexit is likely to be felt for many years to come, bringing new challenges, opportunities and change. So too will the mitigation of climate change, the continuing impact of technology and changing working patterns. For many businesses, it is difficult to know what tomorrow might hold. That is why we have conducted a nationwide research project where we explore the issues, constraints on growth, priorities and plans for the future of 652 business leaders across the UK. Businesses must continue to look ahead and shape their future. Our research, published in a report called Shaping your future, suggests businesses are incredibly confident for their future but are facing significant challenges over the next two years, with reduced cash reserves, stressed supply chains, and a tough recruitment environment.
The headline findings from our Shaping your future report include: n 36% of businesses surveyed report lower cash reserves now than at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. n 2 0% of businesses that have borrowed from Government-backed loan schemes do not expect to repay that money. n Despite this, businesses are upbeat for their future – 39% expect to see turnover increase by up to 25% in the next 12 months, and 27% expect turnover to increase by between 26% and 50%. n 52% of businesses are experiencing supply chain delays of up to six months, with a third (32%) looking to reduce output and orders as a result. n 6 2% of businesses experiencing supply chain delays expect profitability to fall by up to 10%; 29% expect profitability to fall by 11-25%.
n 23% of businesses are prioritising training and upskilling their workforce and 20% on staff retention to address recruitment challenges. n 27% of businesses offer no incentive programme to their employees at all. n A third of businesses surveyed expect to fund future growth through retained prof its and organic company growth. n Over half (56%) say they are exploring merger and acquisition (M& A) opportunities over the next 12 months. The current economic and business environment is incredibly tough for businesses: in some ways coming out of the pandemic feels harder than it did when COVID first began to bite. The shared common experiences of the first lockdown, where all businesses had to adapt to new working patterns, no longer exist as businesses return to whatever their ‘new normal’ might be.
The shared common experiences of the first ❛❛ lockdown, where all businesses had to adapt to
new working patterns, no longer exist as businesses return to whatever their ‘new normal’ might be ❜❜ 24
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