International business

UK businesses hyper-local with too few international aspirations,

UK private businesses are hyper-local, generating the majority of revenues from their immediate geographic location with little interest in international markets.  That is one of the conclusions from a new piece of research from accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves.

The research – published today in a report called Going for Growth: UK company growth strategies to 2021 – finds that a third (32%) of UK private businesses generate between 50-100% of their revenues from their immediate geographic location. 18% are hyper-local, generating between 75-100% of their revenue locally.

And the UK is set to become an even more important market for businesses, with 56% believing their immediate geographic location is the most attractive market for future growth.  Over a third (35%) of businesses have no international aspirations at all.

The survey was conducted over the summer of 2018 and is based on the views of 530 privately owned businesses from across the UK, 80% of which with a turnover below £25m.  The report aims to better understand the hopes and aspirations of businesses towards growth and the barriers to growth as Brexit draws ever closer.

Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner at Kreston Reeves said: “Too many UK businesses are thinking local when our world is increasingly global.  Whilst it is true that businesses will continue to grow in their domestic markets, the lack of international ambition at a time when UK businesses should look to wider international markets has to be worrying.”

The Going for Growth report highlights include:

• 60% of businesses have grown by more than 25% over past three years.
• 58% of businesses remain positive that they will grow by more than 25% over next three years.
• 34% expect to see growth come from investment in new technology.
• 31% of businesses will finance growth through retained profit.
• 21% believe business uncertainty to be the biggest barrier to growth. Access to funding (20%) and increased competitor activity (20%) follow closely behind.
• 35% of businesses fail to scenario plan and prepare for eventualities that may impact their business.
• 35% of businesses have no international aspirations at all.
• 28% say they are unable to resource international expansion, with 27% saying the lack of experience holds them back.
• 32% say they would like help in finding international customers.
• 47% see Brexit as a business opportunity, with 45% saying their growth plans have been positively affected by Brexit. Just 24% perceive Brexit as an obstacle and only 24% think it has negatively affected their growth plans. The remaining businesses remain uncertain.

Andrew said: “UK businesses are bullish about future growth, despite the uncertainty in the economic and political landscape.  They are, however, sensibly cautious about how future growth will be funded, turning to retained profits or organic growth.

“It is surprising, however, that given political and economic uncertainty is considered the primary barrier to growth, that so few businesses scenario plan and prepare for future uncertainties.  We would expect to see and encourage more businesses to prepare for future threats to their revenue.”

Perhaps the greatest concern highlighted by Going for Growth is the reliance on UK customers and lack of international ambition.

24% of businesses surveyed generate up to a quarter of their revenues from Europe, compared with 21% from North America and South America, 23% each from the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and 22% from Australasia.

Resourcing international expansion holds back 28% of businesses, with a further 27% saying lack of experience is the main barrier.

Andrew said: “A quarter of businesses told us that they simply do not know how to access international markets, which suggests that all the time, effort and money successive UK governments have invested in encouraging UK businesses to expand internationally is just not working.  There is clearly more that can be done.

“The advice and support businesses need to support international expansion is quite straightforward.  They want help in identifying customers, partnering opportunities to spread risks and better government support and incentives.  Accountants and other advisers also need to play a greater role in advising businesses on international growth.”

Going for Growth: UK company growth strategies to 2021 is published by Kreston Reeves.  A copy of the report can be downloaded here www.krestonreeves.com/goingforgrowth.  The issues raised in the report will be discussed further at events and in follow up articles.

Visit www.krestonreeves.com/goingforgrowth.