There were a few positive signs in that economic growth (as measured by GDP) improved from the second quarter. Also improvements in lending performance should provide a boost later next year.

 

Compiled by leading economics consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research Limited (Cebr), the report brings together a range of indicators on the health of the UK’s SMEs and is an important tool in helping understand how SMEs can be better supported.

 

Across the UK, the SME Health Check Index fell to its lowest level since January 2014 – falling from 56.3 in Q2 of 2017 to 46.9 in Q3, with the indicators for employment, revenue, confidence and net business creation all down compared to Q2.

 

Businesses in the North and the Midlands were the worst hit – areas of the country that have been prioritised by the Government and where there already exists a substantial gap in growth compared to London and the South-East.

 

Read the full article here.