Survey reiterates credit-access issues

A fifth of small manufacturers have begun to experience an increase in orders and sales, according to a recent survey by UK lobby group, the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

As well as an upturn in current business, the survey found that almost 50 per cent of businesses expect to see an increase over the next 12 months and over a third expect to recruit new staff by September 2010.

Around 22 per cent of small manufacturers are in the process of reducing costs associated with staffing. Another 13 per cent expect they will still be doing so in three months’ time, nine per cent think they will still be making cutbacks in six months, while four per cent of small businesses in manufacturing anticipate they will still be doing so by this time next year.

In addition, five per cent of the companies surveyed said that they are already taking on new staff, while 13 per cent expect to be doing so in six months’ time and 39 per cent believe they will do so before September next year.