Sponsored by
High street high hopes for 2010
Small firms are optimistic for this year
A poll of 8,000 small businesses across the county has revealed that two-thirds are optimistic about the next 12 months.
The survey, carried out to coincide with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Bedfordshire Small Business Awards, points to a positive 2010.
Two-thirds of firms said they believe the coming year will be a better trading year than 2009, and 76 per cent said they were confident about their prospects.
Nearly half of those polled – 49 per cent – claimed to have already won new business three weeks into the new year.
And 26 per cent said they were likely to take on new staff this year, compared to nine per cent that are likely to reduce headcount.
The FSB classes any company that employs fewer than 50 people as a small business, which works out at around 95 per cent of firms across the UK.
However, the organisation has stated that only 13 per cent have entered awards, despite academic research to show that they can have a significant impact on a company's performance, with winners seeing revenues go up by an average of around 30 per cent.
FSB spokesman Damian Cummins said: "The results of our poll are very encouraging. Our message to small businesses is that there is no better time to enter an award to add further momentum to your business."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bedford
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
