SME business confidence levels show significant rise says BCU
THE majority of SMEs in the Midlands are feeling increasingly confident about the future, new research published by Birmingham City Business School has shown.
In a survey of more than 300 SMEs, 78% of firms said they felt confident about their business prospects over the next 12 months. This has improved significantly compared with the 45% figure this time last year.
Prospects for graduates within SMEs are also positive, with 42% saying they have employed a graduate in the last 12 months. In many cases it is not just ‘one off’ opportunities – a fifth (19%) of firms have employed four or more graduates in the last three years.
Professor Chris Prince, executive dean at Birmingham City Business School, said: “The finding of our research is extremely encouraging, as not only are firms feeling more bullish about their future. They also appreciate what graduates can add to their businesses, with 94% of respondents saying they value the contribution a graduate makes.
“But there is still room for improvement, as only half of SMEs are regularly engaging with universities. One in four (25%) told us they have no contact with universities and the same amount (25%) told us they hadn’t thought about it.”
To help more businesses engage with universities, Birmingham City Business School has set up an SME Forum for the West Midlands. The inaugural meeting takes place on November 21 from 6pm at the Baker Building at BCU’s City North campus in Perry Barr.
The SME Forum, which will analyse the additional support that could be offered to SMEs, will be attended also by Professor Paul Forster, chairman of Prostate Cancer UK and visiting professor of management at Birmingham City Business School.
Any business with up to 250 employees is invited to attend. To sign up or for any questions on the SME Forum, firms should email BCBSbusiness.services@bcu.ac.uk.
