From declining confidence to rising borrowing costs, the numbers reveal the financial pressures facing UK SMEs – and the potential solutions.
| Total New Asset Finance | £39.7 billion (3% increase YoY) | Finance & Leasing Association |
|---|---|---|
| SME Lending Share | £23.5 billion | Finance & Leasing Association |
| Small Business Confidence | -64.5 points (lowest outside Covid period) | FSB Small Business Index (Q4) |
| Finance Broker Concerns | 70% say SME environment worsened since July election | iwoca SME Expert Index |
| Calls for Tax Cuts | 38% of finance brokers urge government action | iwoca SME Expert Index |
| Inflation Rate (Jan 2025) | 3.9% | ONS |
| GDP Growth (Q4 2024) | 0.1% | ONS |
| GDP Growth (Q3 2024) | 0.0% | ONS |
| Employer’s National Insurance | Increase from 13.8% to 15% in April 2025 | Government policy |
| Businesses Losing Sleep | 82% of SME owners report stress-related sleep issues | Novuna Business Finance |
| Late Payments (Q4 2024) | 69% of small firms report experiencing delays | FSB |
| Payment Delays (All SMEs) | 90% of UK businesses affected | money.co.uk |
| Alternative Lending Growth | 60% of SME lending from challenger banks | British Business Bank |
| SME Data Visibility | 52% lack full three-year financial records | K3 Advantage Survey |
| SMEs Considering Sale/Reinvestment | 41% (increase from previous year) | K3 Advantage Survey |