SMEs 'planning increased investment'

8th February 2012

Many UK small businesses are planning increased investment in marketing, sales and IT despite the gloomy outlook for the world economy, a survey shows.

More than half (54%) of the 100 small companies surveyed for Iconnyx, which provides managed IT services to businesses, said they would be operating with an increased budget in 2012.

Around three-quarters (79%) also said they had not adjusted their budget for the year because of weak economic forecasts.

More than two-thirds (67%) of companies plan to increase spending on marketing, with a similar number (63%) investing in sales and half planning to put more resources into IT.

Some 63% say email marketing is a priority, with 58% saying the same for website development and 54% for social media.

Nearly a third (30%) will also seek to cut costs by outsourcing work.

Iconnyx managing director Tim Walker said_ "It's really positive to see the strategy of investment despite all the doom and gloom out there. It shows that smaller businesses are more resilient to current economic uncertainty, and the Government should recognise and reward them as a major contributor to the future of UK growth."

Copyright Press Association 2012

Category: Media, Marketing & PR