As we approach the midpoint of 2025, UK SMEs are stepping into a summer of both opportunity and challenge. From evolving hiring trends to fresh injections of government support, there are key signals emerging that business owners should take note of. Here’s what the latest data tells us:
📈 SME Lending Growth: Confidence is Rising
In 2024, UK SMEs secured over £16 billion in loans—a 13% year-on-year increase. This growth signals a renewed willingness among business owners to seek external funding to support expansion, hiring, and digital transformation.
As financial confidence returns, flexible and tailored funding options are increasingly important to keep businesses agile in a competitive landscape.
🙋 Hiring Trends: Growth Means People
According to a recent Aviva survey, 82% of SMEs who are planning to grow expect to bring new people on board in 2025. This marks a major shift in hiring sentiment and reflects mid-year momentum toward expansion.
It’s not just about filling gaps—many businesses are strategically hiring to strengthen their operations for the months ahead.
🚀 Digital Transformation for UK SMEs: A Summer Priority
The UK Government has announced a £3.25 billion Transformation Fund to help accelerate digital modernisation. This includes funding and incentives designed to help SMEs go cloud-based, upgrade systems, and invest in ecommerce or automation.
These initiatives make summer an ideal time to review your tech stack and align funding strategy with growth goals.
⚠️ Access to Finance: A Critical Insight for Summer 2025
While lending is up, many SMEs are still navigating high debt-to-turnover ratios—a lingering result of pandemic-era borrowing. This remains a barrier for some when seeking additional funding.
For businesses in this position, funding solutions that prioritise speed, clarity, and context (like those we offer at Busby) can make a measurable difference.
🔗 Want to Learn More?
We break down these shifts and what they mean for real businesses in our newsletter and one-on-one reviews.
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