Mids' small businesses more optimistic, says survey
Small businesses in the Midlands are among the most confident in the UK, according to new data from Barclays Business.
Results from the Barclays Business Regional Impact Index revealed that more than half (54 per cent) of the Midlands' small businesses expect to experience growth in the next year. This places the region in joint second place with the North East as the most optimistic.
The survey looked at which regions in Britain benefit most from the contributions of their small businesses and the role they are playing in boosting recovery across the country.
Midlands' businesses also topped the rankings for local sourcing, with 63 per cent of supplies coming from companies in the region.
Neil Fewtrell, regional business director, said: "It is encouraging to see this optimism in Central England, with small businesses being confident with their outlook for growth next year.
"As well as increasing their use of local suppliers, small businesses in the region have concentrated on local employment, increasing headcount by 14 per cent - far higher than the national average of 4.5 per cent."
