New survey shows SMEs are divided on suitability of UK for doing business.

There is a clear divide on whether Britain is a great place to run a small or medium sized business according to the latest poll from the Orange SMS Business Jury.

36% of SME and small businesses surveyed disagreed that Britain was a great place to run a small or medium sized business, while just 32% said that Britain was a great place to do business, despite the current downturn.
 
What is clear is that a good reputation and happy customers are paramount for success, particularly when times are tough.

When asked what factor most represents a successful business, 43% said a “good reputation,” with 27% saying “happy customers,” with 19% attributing success to achieving high profits.
 
A healthy economy in 2009 was seen as key to future success.

56% of the businesses surveyed said that a stronger economy was the most important factor, with 21% of respondents saying less red tape as the one thing that would most improve their business.

Staff not a priority

Only 9% said they would invest in better trained staff to improve their business by 2009.
 
12% of the businesses polled believe they are more driven as a result of the harsher economic conditions.

The credit crunch has helped improve some businesses who said they have gained more customer understanding (7%), more experience (6%) and become more innovative (5%) to see them through the downturn.
 
Drive was seen as the most vital personal quality to run a successful business (28%).

This was followed closely by knowledge (25%) and passion (21%). Only a small handful of organisations (3%) said education was an important personal quality for success, marginally above ruthlessness (2%).

As to which company or brand sets the gold standard as an example of a successful British businesses, 47% of those surveyed chose Tesco, 13% chose M&S, 12% chose Dyson, 10% chose the BBC, 3% chose BA and perhaps unsurprisingly given the recent banking collapse only 1% picked Barclays.

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