A data-led guide to the state of small business in the UK, examining local-authority level characteristics of SME growth, productivity and other factors.
A data-led guide to the state of small business in the UK, examining local-authority level characteristics of SME growth, productivity and other factors.
Key findings
- SMEs have disproportionately driven job creation since 2010
- High productivity doesn’t accompany high survival rates
- Digital infrastructure without digital skills and tools will likely not boost productivity
This report, produced by the UK’s innovation foundation Nesta in collaboration with the UK technology company Sage, is a data-led guide to the state of SMEs in the UK. We break down the SME landscape, looking at factors such as productivity, rates of growth, and business churn to provide a view of how small business is faring in our towns, cities, and rural areas across the UK. Our analysis then seeks to identify some of the environmental factors that support or hinder the strength of the UK’s SMEs at a local level, from skills to infrastructure.
Erratum: In the first publication of this report, Figure 11 incorrectly showed ONS data for 2013-16 rather than 2007-16. This has been amended.
