Almost half of SMEs (49 per cent) across the manufacturing sector have aspirations for growth over the next three months, compared with only 31 per cent six months ago immediately after the EU referendum, according to the new quarterly research from Hitachi Capital’s British Business Barometer. The percentage of SMEs anticipating decline is also down from 12 per cent to 9 per cent, suggesting improved levels of confidence within the sector.
At the same time, this sector is one of the most likely among the 15 surveyed to be reliant on overseas markets. While 52 per cent anticipate growth in the next 12 months coming from the UK, nearly a third of small businesses in the manufacturing sector (32 per cent) plan to expand into overseas markets to achieve growth.
The EU (excluding the UK) was the next most important market, with 33.2 per cent of manufacturing SMEs seeing the potential for growth here in the year ahead. However, only a fractionally smaller percentage of businesses saw the potential for growth in the North American market (32.7 per cent), which came a close third.
Tellingly, the manufacturing sector was the most likely to see opportunities from leaving the EU (70 per cent) – far higher than other sectors including media (40 per cent) education (41 per cent) and construction (42 per cent). Half the manufacturers surveyed cite three or more reasons to be optimistic, suggesting their conviction in this belief.
More than a third (37 per cent) consider the weak pound sterling as good news for exporting and building an overseas market share, 31 per cent saw less red tape holding back their business as positive and 28 per cent feel UK consumers were more likely to buy from British businesses as a result of leaving the EU.
Gavin Wraith-Carter, managing director at Hitachi Capital Business Finance comments, ‘Confidence levels among SMEs in the manufacturing sector took a dip around the time of the Brexit vote. However levels have now bounced back to higher than those of a year ago.
‘While the EU market remains key to manufacturing SMEs’ potential for growth, those offered by other markets – particularly if new deals are struck with Australia, the US, Canada and so on – have a new significance, which is hinted at in these results.
‘SMEs have the ability to adapt quickly when required and what we are seeing overall – whether or not this reflects their own political beliefs – is a drive to make the best of any outcome to the Brexit situation.
‘In this case, 70 per cent of manufacturing SMEs are able to see the positives in the current climate, be it the weaker pound or a potential reduction of red tape, which no doubt are contributing factors to current levels of confidence.’
Further reading on manufacturing
