The survey, which polled 1,200 businesses—91 per cent of which were SMEs—found that 41 per cent plan to maintain current operations, while 22 per cent anticipate downsizing, and 2 per cent expect to close.
Urban businesses were more optimistic than their rural counterparts, with 36 per cent projecting growth compared to 29 per cent. Domestic demand remains the top growth driver, cited by 38 per cent of businesses, while 22 per cent pointed to international customer demand, the BCC said in a release.
Around 35 per cent of UK businesses expect growth this year, driven by domestic demand and rising online sales, British Chambers of Commerce and Royal Mail found.
SMEs eye AI adoption and project online sales to grow from 20 per cent to 26 per cent in three years.
Leaders urge improved infrastructure and support for SMEs to boost competitiveness and digital reach.
The report also highlights early adoption of AI among SMEs, with 18 per cent believing new technologies will support their growth strategies. Digital sales remain a key focus, with businesses expecting the share of online sales to rise from 20 per cent to 26 per cent over the next three years. Consumer-facing businesses anticipate an even sharper rise, from 31 per cent to 38 per cent.
“This is undoubtedly a challenging time for businesses, but our research shows some glimmers of hope. Strong domestic demand, powered by online sales, can help UK firms grow over the coming months. We’re continuing to urge policymakers to improve digital and transport infrastructure to break down barriers, particularly for SMEs,” Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said in a release.
“The growing trend for shopping on marketplaces and savvy social media marketing mean consumers are moving online more and more. SMEs can take advantage of this, but to compete with larger companies they need to offer customers the same convenience at checkout, including choice of payment and delivery options. We will be increasing our support for SMEs to help them reach as many customers as possible in this challenging environment,” said Emma Gilthorpe, chief executive of Royal Mail.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
