London, UK, 20th January 2020 – SMEs have potential to power an ambitious and vigorous post-Brexit UK economy, reveals new research from Sage and Capital Economics today.
Capital Economics’ analysis identifies significant untapped trade potential within the UK SME community. 375,000 SMEs have exportable products and services but are not currently exporting. If all 375,000 businesses began to trade internationally, Capital Economics estimates the economy would see a rise in export revenues of £290 billion each year - almost half the value of the trade agreement between the UK and European Union (EU).
Unlocking just 10% of this potential could add £29 billion per year to export revenues, supporting around 215,000 direct jobs and 50,000 additional jobs in the professional and scientific sectors alone. The sectors with the greatest opportunity to grow the number of exporting businesses are in information and communication, agriculture and manufacturing as well as professional and scientific services.
In response to the economic effects of COVID-19 many SMEs have turned to international trade, with 67% of SMEs either taking or considering measures to increase their revenue through exports in new markets according to polling in December 2020. At the same time, a wave of accelerated digitisation is helping simplify access to new markets and reduce trade complexity.
Sage is calling for the Government to introduce a new SME Trader Support Service, which will support SMEs’ appetite to trade and build business confidence to export. Additional measures the Government could introduce include providing financial incentives to adopt new tech tools, expanding digital adoption among the business community and building resilience into the fragile recovery.
These figures show that should UK SMEs take exportable products to international markets, it would generate a significant boost to revenues and drive a thriving post-Brexit economy. Stimulating investment in technology would help more than 50% of SMEs access new international markets, as the application of digital technology helps businesses looking to export. For example, e-commerce and digital marketing platforms enable SMEs to reach new customers overseas and accountancy software platforms reduce complexities when invoicing in multiple currencies.
The existing Trader Support Service, which helps move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, can complete declarations on businesses behalf and navigate any changes in the rules. The expansion of this service and the creation of an SME Trader Support Service could give SMEs the confidence to trade globally knowing they have access to free support, while giving them sufficient time to learn the rules of international trade and eventually trade independently.
Paul Struthers, Managing Director, UK and Ireland at Sage, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate the performance and reach of the UK’s economic backbone. Navigating through a third national lockdown, SMEs continue to diversify, digitise and look to new markets. All of which will generate new jobs and power a strong recovery.
“We are at a major turning point for the UK economy on the global stage. But, we need to move quickly to give SMEs the confidence to capitalise on the trading opportunities after Brexit – incentivising digitisation to give businesses the platforms to serve customers across the globe. Today’s research provides a strong basis for the expansion of the Trader Support Service and creation of a SME Trader Support Service, which will help unlock the incredible export opportunities among the SME community.”
To download the Capital Economics summary report, visit here.
About Sage
Sage is the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people. With our partners, Sage is trusted by millions of customers worldwide to deliver the best cloud technology and support. Our years of experience mean that our colleagues and partners understand how to serve our customers and communities through the good, and more challenging times. We are here to help, with practical advice, solutions, expertise and insight.
About Capital Economics
Capital Economics is one of the leading independent economic research companies in the world. Our large team of more than 60 experienced economists provides award-winning macroeconomic, financial market and sectoral analysis, forecasts and consultancy, from offices in London, New York, Toronto, and Singapore.
Founded in 1999, we have gained an enviable reputation for original and insightful analysis and have built up a diverse and distinguished client base. The majority are in the financial sector, including some of the world’s largest investment banks and wealth managers, as well as smaller and more specialist firms. But we also have a growing number of corporate clients from a wide range of sectors and industries, and many relationships with governments and central banks, both in advanced and emerging economies.
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