Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership: Economic and Business Intelligence Working Brief 15

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1 Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership: Economic and Business Intelligence Working Brief 15 SMEs performance and business success May 2015 Introduction The UK Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) has recently published the research results of the 2014 Small Business Survey on Small Business Survey 2014: SME employers. It is based on a large-scale survey of business owners and managers, and deals with a number of issues including businesses performance, obstacles to business success, the capabilities of owners and managers, access to finance, and the use of business support. This Working Brief aims to describe those issues facing UK SMEs so as to create a benchmark for Coventry and Warwickshire companies, that it could be useful to compare the latter with the rest of the UK SMEs. Profile of businesses Businesses are divided into three categories: Micro-businesses (one-nine employees) 82% of SME employers Small businesses (10-49 employees) 15% of SME employers Medium businesses ( employees) 2% of SME employers In the table below, results and key trends from 2014 are compared with those from the last Small Business Survey in No of surveyed SME employers 4,355 4,768 Operating from a single site Aged 0-5 years Women-led Minority Ethnic Group-led 7 7 Social enterprise 6 5 Key features of the UK SMEs In the present section there will be presented results regarding: a) businesses performance, b) obstacles to business success, c) the capabilities of owners and managers, d) access to finance, and e) the use of business support. 1

2 a) Business performance Sales turnover (value of turnover) The table below compares the current turnover with 12 months before, from 2014 to /2008 Turnover greater now Same as 12 months before Turnover lower now seems to be the worst year in terms of sales turnover; indeed 35% of companies register a lower turnover compared to the previous years; whereas only 28% have witnessed an increase in sales turnover. On the other hand, in 2014 firms registered a notable improvement; indeed 40% of companies gained a greater turnover compared to 2012 and 2010, so that it has nearly reached the same level pre-crisis. Profit No of SMEs with profit in the last financial years / In % of companies generated a profit in their financial statements, and it represents the lowest percentage of the years under study; whereas, in % companies registered a profit, six percentage points higher than the equivalent figure in 2012 and the same percentage before the financial crisis. Furthermore, manufacturing, construction, business services and administrative services are those sectors that have registered the highest level of profit in Plans for growth 73% of SMEs employers plan to grow their business over the next two-three years. Growth ambition is higher in manufacturing, information and communication sectors. The strategies that SMEs intend to support their growth ambition are: Increase workforce skills Exploit new markets Increase the leadership capability of managers Launch new products or services Capital investments 2

3 Employment The table below highlights numbers of employed compared with 12 months ago 2014 % More than 12 months ago 22 Same as 12 months ago 62 Fewer than 12 months ago 16 The manufacturing sector has registered an increase in employment, whereas transport, retail and distribution, and information/communication sectors have witnessed a decrease in employment since last year. The table below shows numbers to employ from 2007/2008 to /2008 More than now Same as now Fewer than now b) Obstacles to business success The first three main obstacles to the success of SME businesses are: a) The economy b) Competition c) Taxation It is worthy of note that the economy is much less likely to be considered as the main obstacle to the success of the business in 2014 than in c) The capabilities of owners and managers 38% of SMEs employers have introduced new or improved products or services in the last year. 32% of SMEs employers have introduced new or improved processes in last year. The manufacturing sector, one of Coventry and Warwickshire s key sectors, as well as the information and communication sectors, have innovated more in terms of products and services. The figure below shows the capabilities of owners and managers, which are usually considered fundamental to running a successful business: 3

4 The survey reveals that a low percentage of owners and managers are capable of accessing the financial market and enter into a new market (respectively 27% and 28%). On the other hand, people management and taking decision on tax and regulations issues are the strongest capabilities of owners and management which allow them to successfully run their companies. d) Access to finance The table below shows some key trends on access to finance. Whether sought finance in last year Problem with late payment Whether had difficulty from first source approached Whether eventually obtained all finance needed SME employers have applied for finance for the following reasons: a) working capital and cash flow; b) to buy capital equipment or vehicles; c) to buy land or buildings. e) The use of business support Sought external advice or information in the previous year Used a monitor mentor 12 8 The common reason for seeking advice is for business growth, whereas the common reason for seeking information is for tax/national insurance law and payments. The frequent sources of advice or information are from the private sector (accountants, consultants, banks, solicitors and lawyers), business networks and trade associations. 4

5 Conclusions This report, delivered by the UK Department for BIS, highlights the key trends of the UK SMEs in terms of businesses performance, obstacles to business success, the capabilities of owners and managers, access to finance and the use of business support. This report represents a benchmark for Coventry and Warwickshire SMEs from which they can analyse the status quo and plan future strategies to perform even better. References You can download a copy of the full report (Paper No 214) from the Department for BIS website For more information about Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Economic and Business Intelligence please visit: 5