Two-thirds of small businesses expect to grow next year

The FSB's Small Business Index has found that, while firms are less confident than in previous quarters, they still expect to hire more staff, increase exports and grow their businesses in the first quarter of 2015. Small firms' productivity grew year-on-year in the second half of 2014, rising by 1.1% in the fourth quarter of the year. This is an encouraging sign for the both economy as a whole and workers in particular, as wage growth is typically linked to productivity increases. John Allan (pictured), FSB national chairman, said: "All the signs show that as we head into the New Year small businesses are expecting to grow and take on new staff. But to achieve these positive ambitions small firms will need certainty in the domestic economy including interest rates." Nearly a quarter of businesses (22%) reported the cost of finance was a barrier to growth, compared to 10% a year ago. The situation is most acute for the smallest firms. Only 11% of small businesses without employees report that they find new credit affordable, compared to 44% of those with 51 or more staff. Allan continued: "There are signs that more support could be needed. The perception of increasing cost of finance, and further warnings of a downturn on the continent, demonstrate that Ministers need to continue to do all they can to support small firms. Building on extensions to schemes like Funding for Lending, the Employment Allowance, and recently improved business support programmes are crucial to this."