Nearly a third of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have reported problems in finding suitable accommodation for their business - a significant increase over the past 12 months. The findings come in the Spacia Small Business Property Monitor 2003.
Collated from research conducted exclusively for Spacia by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), the Monitor is the third in an annual survey of small business property needs.
The Monitor's index of 'Property Search Confidence' shows that 29% of small businesses interviewed had experienced difficulty in finding accommodation - a substantial increase from 18% in 2002.
Ian Campbell, Director of Spacia, commented 'Record numbers of small businesses - 68% - are calling for more flexible lease terms from landlords and there has been a doubling, to 48%, in the proportion of businesses having difficulty finding property suitable for their future expansion'.
The Monitor's findings come shortly after the Confederation of British Industry reported (November 2002) that SMEs in the manufacturing sector have seen orders and output falling at an increased rate and that small businesses are now less confident about the overall economic outlook.
The Spacia Small Business Property Monitor 2003 also reveals:
All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.
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