CHESHIRE campaign group the Forum of Private Business (FPB) says it is seeing evidence that business confidence is slowly returning despite falling sales, late payments and spiralling costs.
In its latest Economic Downturn Panel survey of members, 26% of respondents saw an improvement in the “viability” of their businesses in the past month – double the number experiencing a decline. Some 12% of firms said bank support had improved, the highest figure since the survey launched last November.
FPB chief executive Phil Orford said: “Although there is still more dissatisfaction with lenders than there is approval of them, more struggling small businesses are reporting positive experiences.
“This must be nurtured by further measures to address the cost of lending, which remains restrictive, and by policies from the Government to stimulate the economy and protect both employers and employees.”
