Medium-sized businesses optimistic about the future

Medium-sized businesses are more optimistic about the future than smaller firms according to new research from Azets.

The Azets Barometer survey which features 353 responses from businesses across the UK in April 2024 found that businesses leaders are cautiously optimistic about their expectations for the next year with respondents rating their economic prospects at 5.5 out of ten.

The survey highlights a clear correlation between business size and financial confidence with smaller firms in a slightly weaker financial position relative to their peers. Small businesses employing between ten and 49 people scored 6.1 while medium-sized businesses which employ between 50 and 249 people scored 6.8. Large companies expressed the highest levels of optimism about their own financial performance scoring 7.3.

Economic and geopolitical uncertainty rank as the challenges at the forefront of businesses’ minds at 5.8 and 5.4 respectively. This was followed by...