Claire’s Column – Business Growth Set To Continue

Published on: 21 May, 2014
Updated on: 22 May, 2014

In this regular column – a must-read for all those interested in Guildford business – Claire Dee welcomes news of continued small business growth in the region.

Claire Dee

A new report from Bibby Financial Services shows that two thirds (67%) of small and medium-sized (SME) businesses in the South East are expecting to grow over the coming months.

The Business Factors Index surveyed more than 1,000 UK business owners, and found that 63% of SMEs in the South East saw sales increase during the first three months of the year, with 17% reporting that sales had increased significantly.

This is all good news, and follows other equally positive trends in the area, including growing confidence in employers regarding expansion and recruitment.

For example, Guildford’s own University of Surrey has invested heavily in its new £45 million School of Veterinary Medicine which is currently under construction and due to open in autumn 2015. This, in turn, will bring hundreds of jobs and students to the town.

What must be remembered, however, is as the local small business community focuses on growth it also needs support from the outside world, including access to funding, attainable house prices, and stable inflation levels – all of which are proving challenging right now.

After all, like any growing commodity, you only get out of it what you put in.

Claire Dee runs her own communications consultancy near Guildford and is an active member of the local business community including sitting on the Surrey Chambers of Commerce Council. To learn more visit www.clairedeecommunications.com