North West mid-tier businesses plan investment and hiring drive to spearhead recovery

• 89% of North West businesses plan to recruit more staff in the next six months
• More than three quarters of regional businesses say 2021 is the year to invest; 53% are planning new investments as a direct result of ‘super deduction’
• 93% predict a return to pre-pandemic revenues within a year.

North West businesses plan to embark on a major investment and hiring drive in 2021, as the UK continues to follow the roadmap out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Medium-sized businesses in the region look set to spearhead the UK’s economic recovery, with more than three quarters of businesses (80%) stating that 2021 is the year to invest.

According to the latest Rethinking the Economy survey from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, 40% of North West businesses plan to either expand by investing in new locations or acquiring other businesses. The renewed drive follows the Government’s capital allowance announcement in last month’s Budget, with more than half of businesses (53%) planning new investments as a result of the Chancellor’s ‘super deduction’ initiative.

Business confidence has also increased, as 93% of businesses in the region expect revenues to return to pre-pandemic levels within a year of the strictest restrictions being lifted.

Mid-sized, PE owned and AIM listed businesses, what BDO calls the economic engine, account for less than 1% of UK businesses overall, but contribute £1.4tn in revenues and provide one in four jobs. In the five years leading up to the start of the pandemic, these businesses grew revenues by 46%, despite Brexit-related uncertainty.

Commenting on the findings, Ed Dwan, partner and head of BDO in the North West, said: “It’s clear that as Government restrictions start to loosen, and the UK’s COVID vaccine programme continues to help suppress the virus, North West businesses are gaining the confidence needed to make key strategic decisions in the months ahead.

“Mid-sized businesses will play an integral role in the UK’s overall economic recovery. Pre-pandemic, mid-tier businesses provided a significant proportion of jobs in the region and this looks set to grow over the next 12 months, with 47% of businesses planning to hire more permanent staff. More than half (60%) are looking towards a temporary workforce in order to provide the flexibility to balance both resource and market demand during the course of 2021. In light of the Government’s £3,000 incentive to hire apprentices, the majority (63%) also said they would hire within the next six months, with a third specifically stating that this is because of the announcement.”

Last month, the Industrial Strategy Council – an advisory group led by Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane – said the UK’s plans to spread economic growth into the regions of the UK appeared “over-reliant on infrastructure spending and the continued use of centrally controlled funding pots thinly spread across a range of initiatives”.

However, according to the Rethinking the Economy survey, 83% of North West businesses feel the Chancellor promised enough to support the regional ‘levelling up’ agenda in his Spring Budget. Furthermore, 57% believe that their region will be given enough financial support over the next 12 months as a direct result of the pandemic.

Dwan added: “While the general mood amongst North West businesses is one of optimism in the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, there is clearly still work to be done to ensure the correct levels of funding are administered fairly, and targeted support is given to each area. This will be vital in supporting businesses on the road to recovery.

“The reality is, few businesses have come away from the crisis unscathed, with more than a third of North West businesses (40%) stating that their target market will need to change as a result of the pandemic, together with an increase on pricing. While there is a genuine reason for renewed confidence, the road ahead remains a challenging one.”