Small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy, accounting for 47.1% of UK employment (10.55 million jobs) and 37.2% of turnover (£967.2 billion). However, they are perhaps the least understood of all of the business sectors due to their diversity and distribution across the UK.
In order to redress the balance, this report is based on independent in-depth research among 1650 start-up, home-based and growing businesses across the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)1. The report is an integral part of Small Business Week 2007 – examining the changes affecting small businesses in order to better understand what they need to thrive in 2007 and the future.
Small Business Week 2007 is the first time key organisations representing a range of Government, business and independent organisations have come together in partnership to celebrate the country's 4.3 million small businesses and highlight the resources and support structures available to them.
The initiative is supported BT Business, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC),
BusinessLink, everywoman, Angel News and the Royal Bank of Scotland.