Monday 10 November, 2025 – A brand new ballot performed through Rathbones, one of the crucial UK’s main wealth and asset control teams, has printed that almost two out of 3 (63%) small and medium-sized endeavor (SME) house owners and managers really feel that the federal government isn’t doing sufficient to inspire industry enlargement in the United Kingdom. This sentiment is shared through greater than two out of 5 (42%) respondents who imagine that govt insurance policies aren’t supportive of companies.
The survey, which interviewed 1,024 SME founders, house owners, and senior executives between October twenty fourth and twenty seventh 2025, additionally printed that one in 8 (12%) SME leaders, an identical to round 680,000 companies out of the United Kingdom’s 5.67 million, are actively making plans to relocate themselves, their companies, or each because of the present tax burden. Of the ones making plans to relocate, a 3rd (33%) mentioned they might additionally transfer their industry out of the country, whilst every other 3rd would transfer as people. The rest industry house owners plan to simply relocate their companies.
Eire was once rated as the highest vacation spot through 26% of this cohort, adopted through 21% opting for Dubai and 18% settling on the USA.
Along with the companies making plans to relocate, an additional 26% of SME leaders expressed fear concerning the present tax setting, regardless of now not making plans to transport out of the country.
Those findings come simply weeks earlier than the approaching Funds, the place the Chancellor is rumored to boost the weight of industrial as soon as once more.
Ade Babatunde, Senior Monetary Making plans Director at Rathbones, expressed fear over the possible lack of tax income and employment alternatives if those companies have been to depart the United Kingdom. “SMEs are the spine of the United Kingdom economic system, and their departure would have an important affect at the govt’s ambition to get Britain rising,” he mentioned.
The ballot additionally printed that there’s a basic sense of dissatisfaction amongst SME leaders with present govt coverage. Just about two-thirds (63%) imagine that the federal government isn’t doing sufficient to incentivize industry introduction and enlargement, whilst 42% really feel that govt insurance policies are unsupportive of companies.
When requested concerning the affect of latest coverage adjustments, 36% of respondents mentioned that will increase in Employers’ Nationwide Insurance coverage and the Nationwide Dwelling Salary have relatively or considerably affected their companies. As well as, 43% cited tax adjustments as having the most important affect, whilst 13% pointed to employment legislation adjustments.
In relation to coverage priorities, 49% of SME leaders need tax breaks to inspire industry enlargement and body of workers hiring, whilst 25% reinforce incentives for industry house owners to take dangers, and 21% desire rewards for industry good fortune.
Consistent with Babatunde, those findings spotlight the desire for the federal government to supply incentives for risk-taking and acknowledge industry good fortune. “Those aren’t simply asks – they’re crucial substances for a thriving economic system,” he mentioned.
Rathbones, with places of work throughout the United Kingdom, has intensive enjoy running with marketers and family-run companies. For more info, seek advice from their site for wealth control products and services for marketers and industry house owners.
Notes to Editors:
– Rathbones commissioned impartial analysis company Viewsbank to behavior the survey.
– The survey interviewed 1,024 SME founders, house owners, and senior executives between October twenty fourth and twenty seventh 2025.
– *Consistent with the most recent statistics from the United Kingdom govt, there are an estimated 5.67 million companies in the United Kingdom as of 2025.
