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Steps to Growth:

AMBITIONBreaking Down the Geographical Differences

We spoke to 300 owner-managed businesses, from across the UK, about their growth ambitions over

the next 12 months

of owner-managed businesses believe their best days are ahead of them

7O%

OPTIMISM BY REGION

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN THE NORTH-WEST WERE MOST POSITIVE

The North-West has started to benefit as investors widen their horizons from London

and Edinburgh and start to look at micro investments in other cities

“

”- Billy MacLeod, Regional Director for Scotland,

Allied Irish Bank (GB)

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN WALES WERE ALSO POSITIVE

of owner-managed businesses there were optimistic about their prospects

61%

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN SCOTLAND WERE LEAST POSITIVE

of owner-managed businesses there believe their best days are ahead of them

35%

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN THE NORTH-EAST WERE ALSO LESS OPTIMISTIC

of owner-managed businesses there believe their best days are ahead of them

38%

JOB CREATION BY REGION

SCOTLAND AND THE SOUTH-WEST WERE MOST POSITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO JOB CREATION

18% and 17% of owner-managed businessess respectively in those areas expect to increase their payroll by more than half in the next 12 months.

29% of owner-managed businesses there expect to downsize in the next 12 months

THE NORTH-WEST WAS LESS POSITIVE

GROWTH BY REGION

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN LONDON WERE MOST OPEN TO GROWTH

51% have both a strong appetite for growth and a plan in place to make it happen

OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN SCOTLAND WERE LEAST SURE ABOUT DEFINITE GROWTH PLANS

have a strong appetite for growth and a plan in place to

make it happen

describe themselves as open to growth

12%

53%

For more on the regional and geographical differences on doing business in the UK, read the Steps to Growth

Report in full:

aibgb.co.uk/steps-to-growth