Industry Newssmall businessfintechiwocasurvey
UK SMEs Lose Confidence Despite Revenue Optimism
6.1
Fintech lender iwoca reports that UK small and medium-sized enterprises show waning national economic confidence in early 2026, with only 38% optimistic versus 51% a year earlier, based on a survey of 1,005 SME leaders. Hiring intentions fell to 45% for 2026 even as 72% expect higher turnover and 66% express enthusiasm about AI, raising concerns for growth and recovery.
Key Points
- 1Finds only 38% of UK SME owners optimistic, down from 51% year-over-year
- 2Highlights rising costs and policy concerns—47% cite running expenses, 44% cite uncertainty
- 3Signals hiring pullback: only 45% plan hires in 2026, affecting workforce and growth
Scoring Rationale
Timely, sector-wide survey with practical implications; limited by single-source company report and potential sponsor bias.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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