Seven in 10 West Midlands small businesses defy market uncertainty and press ahead with future growth projects

Following 2025 starting with a UK dip in the percentage of UK small businesses predicting growth, the latest findings for the West Midlands suggest a solid resilience among regional business owners to invest in initiatives that will deliver future growth. These positive resolutions defy the challenging context – namely, the seismic geo-political uncertainty and the risk of the US imposing tariffs on the UK and EU markets in the coming weeks.

The most common projects that West Midlands small businesses are working on to boost growth prospects over the spring months included:

• Keeping fixed costs down - 58%
• Expanding into new markets / overseas -14%
• Improving cash flow - 32%
• Investing in new equipment - 17%
• Hiring more people - 17%
• Being stricter getting paid on time - 22%
• Reassessing finance/funding commitments - 16%

Joanna Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance Comments: “Having reported a fall in the percentage of small businesses that predicted growth at the start of the year, it is positive that so many West Midlands enterprises are investing in new projects to drive future growth over the spring and summer months. This is especially impressive given the international tensions that inevitably usher in a period of volatility and market uncertainty – and impact everyone’s supply chain.”

“At Novuna Business Finance, we are committed to helping established small businesses to work through challenging phases in the economic cycle. We provide flexible, tailored financial solutions to help established small businesses to plan for long-term growth and – in doing so – to realise their full potential.”