According to a survey of more than 900 SMEs from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), 27 per cent expect their turnover to decrease over the next year, while only 30 per cent plan to increase investment in technology and R&D
Almost two in three (64 per cent) believe they don’t have access to sufficient skilled labour in their local area while 58 per cent feel let down by their local transport services.
The BCC said these factors are “entrenching” a rural-urban divide among UK SMEs.
When assessing the suitability of local infrastructure, the rural-urban divide was particularly notable in public transport. Well over half (58 per cent) of SMEs in rural areas do not believe their area has reliable and well-connected trains, compared with just 39 per cent in urban areas.
Rail network deficiencies are also impacting SMEs based in business, retail or industrial parks, half (51 per cent) of which were not satisfied with this provision.
This rose further...