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SMEs just want to grow
And government should be helping...

By Natasha Lomas

Published: Monday 29 October 2007

The UK's 4.5 million small businesses are keen for the government to do more to help them grow.

A report from BT Business reveals almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of SMEs believe the government could do more, compared to just seven per cent that think ministers are already doing all they can.

SMEs are particularly keen for government to simplify regulations: 74 per cent think this would improve their prospects, while a reduction in business-related taxes would also be useful according to 70 per cent of the businesses polled. Meanwhile, half of SMEs think government could offer greater incentives for small businesses.

The BT report - entitled The State of the Small Business Nation - also highlights areas SMEs feel they lack expert knowledge. These include finance (37 per cent), HR (30 per cent) and sales and marketing (25 per cent).

The report divides SMEs into three categories: start-ups, home-based businesses and growing companies - and found that across all three categories the key priority is growing the business. It also found 60 per cent of new businesses are started from home.