Confidence among UK small firms has risen to the highest level in more than a year, according to the latest Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Small Business Index (SBI).
The SBI stands at 20.0 in Q1 2017, the highest figure since Q4 2015, and up considerably from the -2.9 recorded after the EU referendum.
According to the federation, the strong recovery has been spurred by increased international trade with a net balance of 15.6% of small firms reporting a rise in export activity during the past three months, with a net balance of 30.5% expecting international sales to increase over the next quarter. Both figures are at their highest level since the SBI began.
Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see our small businesses trading more overseas, driving an exports-led recovery.”
We see that growing confidence every day among the companies with which we work and we believe that digital technology is playing its part to support continuing growth, and Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
A new survey has underlined the growing importance of digital technology to businesses of all size.
The British Chambers of Commerce Digital Economy Survey questioned more than 1,400 businesses across the UK and found that 84% of firms say digital and IT skills are more important to their business than two years ago, with 51% saying these skills are ‘significantly’ more important.
However, the survey also found that 20% of businesses had been hit by a cyber-attack in the past 12 months. Big businesses are far more likely than their smaller counterparts to be victims of attacks (42% of companies with more than 100 staff, compared to 18% of companies with fewer than 99 employees).
We agree that digital technology is playing its part to support the growth of the UK economy but that companies also need to maintain their security.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage of digital opportunities and we can also advise on ways to avoid falling foul of hackers.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
A new survey has shown that UK manufacturers experienced strong growth in orders both at home and from abroad over the first quarter of 2017.
Researchers for the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey contacted 397 manufacturers and found that domestic orders improved at the fastest pace since July 2014 in the three months to April.
Meanwhile export orders recorded the strongest growth in six years, supported by strong rises in competitiveness, particularly in non-EU markets which improved at a record pace.
Output growth firmed to a three-year high and is expected to accelerate over the next quarter.
Companies are also upbeat in their year-ahead expectations for exports, with optimism posting the biggest gain in over four decades.
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said: “UK manufacturers are enjoying strong growth in demand from customers in the UK and overseas, and continue to ramp up production, find more info at https://currysupply.com. Exports have surged and firms are at their most optimistic about selling overseas in over four decades.”
We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth, and Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The importance of innovation was underlined when Business Secretary Greg Clark recently named the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 91st birthday.
One hundred and seventy-six businesses from across the UK were recognised for their contribution to international trade, innovation and , sustainable development in industries from green energy solutions and medical healthcare, to laser technology and digital marketing. Fifty seven won the innovation award.
Greg Clark said: “We have some of the best Action AC entrepreneurs and innovative minds in the world who are at the heart of small start-ups providing excellent customer service to larger businesses developing global solutions.”
We salute them because innovation is key to the success of our economy. Digital technology is playing a key role in promoting innovation and we like to think that we are playing our part. Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help manufacturing companies streamline their operations to run smartly, efficiently, and grow.
· Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
· Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
Entrepreneurs are being invited to complete a survey by Government-backed organisation Innovate UK, which is seeking views on innovation.
Innovate UK says it will use the results to strengthen the ways in which it supports innovative companies and, as a company whose digital technologies help many clients find new ways of working, we think it’s well worth offering your views.
Among the questions that Innovate UK is seeking to answer are:
how much effort are you investing in evolving or developing new products, services and processes, as well as in new areas?
how much you expect to grow in the next two years and what the challenges stopping you from doing so?
what are your plans for international activities?
They are seeking views from businesses of any size and age and the survey is open until 23 April 2017 at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-does-your-organisation-approach-research-and-innovation innovate uk
A new survey has shown that manufacturing is playing a key role in the UK’s economic revival.
Although overall private sector growth slowed slightly in the three months to March, according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, manufacturing output expanded strongly.
Overall, firms expect growth to pick up over the next quarter, with the survey balance the strongest since September 2015.
We see that confidence reflected among the companies that we help. We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth and our clients are benefitting from the use of IT to develop new projects and improve the efficiency of existing ones.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The latest Office for National Statistics labour market figures, for March, showed employment continuing to rise.
Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “The UK’s jobs market is going from strength to strength, with the number of people in work continuing to rise and unemployment also falling.”
The Chamber does warn that the future looks uncertain with concerns over Brexit but for the moment, things look good.
We are certainly seeing that confidence reflected in the companies to whom we talk on a daily basis.
We believe that digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth and our clients are benefitting from the innovative use of IT to develop new projects and improve the efficiency of existing ones.
Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The latest national CBI Industrial Trends Survey shows expectations for growth standing at a two-decade high
The survey of 423 firms found that export order books were the highest since December 2013, driven by a broad-based strengthening of which half was accounted for by the pharmaceutical and mechanical engineering sectors. Total order books remained firm in March, after strengthening to a two-year high in February.
Output growth rose at its quickest pace since July 2014 in the three months to March, with manufacturers anticipating that it will accelerate further over the near-term. Meanwhile, firms’ expectations for selling price inflation remain elevated for the quarter ahead.
Anna Leach, CBI Head of Economic Intelligence, said: “Innovation continues to be a fundamental driver of UK competitiveness and productivity gains and will influence the success of UK companies over the longer term.”
We could not agree more. We believe that innovative digital technology is playing its part to support this continuing growth, and Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help businesses take advantage.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
The British Chambers of Commerce has upgraded its UK GDP growth forecast from 1.0% to 1.1% for 2017 and predicts that manufacturing growth will remain steady at 0.8% over 2017 and 2018.
Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “In the absence of a clear road ahead, many companies have been adopting a ‘business as usual’ approach in the months since the referendum, which has kept conditions buoyant and prevented a sharp slowdown in growth.”
We like to think that we are playing our part. Bowe Digital offers a range of IT solutions that can help manufacturing companies streamline their operations to run smartly, efficiently, and grow.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out how.
Bowe Digital – we make I.T. happen
Author – Be Everywhere
The Federation of Small Businesses is calling on the Government to ensure that all SMEs receive at least a basic level of broadband by the end of the Parliament.
Nearly half a million (480,000) small businesses cannot access superfast broadband, with 192,000 not even being able to access 10 Mbps and theFSB wants the Government to commit to a Universal Service Obligation (USO), guaranteeing a good service.
Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: “Too many small businesses are held back by poor broadband coverage and slow speeds.”
We agree – good broadband is crucial if companies are to take advantage of the digital revolution and the services that we offer.
Our IT support services use advanced remote monitoring and preventative maintenance technologies to keep infrastructure optimised. Issues can be identified, reported, and resolved in real time.
Call us on 0191 214 1750 or email info@bowe.co.uk to find out more.
Author – Be Everywhere