smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The most popular wish among small businesses for 2012 is for Germany and France to take decisive action to end the Eurozone crisis, research finds.

Some 36 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) see the Eurozone crisis as their biggest concern, according to an survey of 400 companies by IFF Research.

However, a substantial proportion want more extreme measures taken, with 21 per cent of SMEs saying their wish for 2012 is that the UK leaves the EU.

Other business wishes are for a significant increase in UK public sector spending (17 per cent) and, after a year of substantial public sector unrest, a ban on all strikes (13 per cent).

One in 20 respondents say that their wish for the New Year is for a new Chancellor.

Mark Speed, Joint Managing Director, IFF Research says, ‘We’ve now had over four years of business uncertainty since the sub-prime mortgage and Northern Rock crises. There is clearly an appetite among small businesses for decisive action and Europe is currently at the heart of the debate; it’s a vital trading market for the UK and SMEs are seeking stability.

‘The large proportion hoping that the ‘Merkozy’ approach will work indicates the potential impact that success or failure could have on the UK’s SMEs.'

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