SME Finance Monitor

The SME Finance Monitor has been providing independent, robust and respected data on access to finance amongst SMEs since 2011. We have now conducted over 160,000 interviews (4,500 each quarter), building into a considerable data set on SME sentiment around past and future finance needs. Having tracked how SMEs fared after the last recession, we are now monitoring them through the immediate and longer term implications of Covid-19, with regular updates on SME access to finance as well as their growth plans, ambitions and current performance. The latest data shows that the strains arising from Covid-19 evident in Q2 persisted in Q3 but typically were not worsening, and in some instances the situation had improved.

Latest data:

Key metrics for the 3 months to December 2020

The Q3 Management Summary and full Q3 Chart Pack.

SME Finance Monitor data is made available across a range of bespoke reports

Updates on key metrics are published each month based on the previous 3 months rolling data. The latest period is the 3 months to the end of November 2020.
A full report is usually published every 6 months, providing the latest data on SMEs by size, sector and region and showing how the market has evolved over time. Due to the pandemic and the need to get data out in a timely manner, the Q2 2020 report was replaced by a summary chart pack and management summary published on the 12^th August 2020 and an additional Q3 2020 summary chart pack and management summary on 1^st December. The Q4 2020 report will be written as normal and published in March 2021.
Every year we publish the annual Regional Report which provides more detail on the English regions and the three devolved nations in the last year and over time. The 2019 report was published in July 2020 and the next report for 2020 will be published in mid-2021.
We also publish reports on specific sub-groups of interest. The most recent Women-lead business report included data to Q2 2019. The last Black and Minority Ethnic business report included data to Q2 2016 but an updated version is due to be published later in 2021.
The full archive of SME Finance Monitor reports can be found here: https://www.bva-bdrc.com/sme-finance-monitor-archive/

Blogs

Digitisation of Indonesia from COVID-19

18th Feb 2021

One of the few upsides of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Indonesian economy has been to move it away from cash towards electronic payments.

Does loyalty pay? - A Hotel sector perspective

3rd Feb 2021

James Bland gives his thoughts on loyalty in the hotel sector. Do the loyalty programmes so prominent in the sector reward loyalty? And, how can brands leverage this to enhance their bottom line?

Let’s get down to home-schooling!

20th Jan 2021

January 5th marked the third national lockdown across the UK - inevitably signalling another wave of home-schooling.

Pre-Booking Insights for Visitor Attractions

13th Jan 2021

Many visitor attractions have responded to COVID-19 by changing to pre-booking only. There are clear benefits of this for some attractions. However, pre-booking doesn’t suit everyone.

A changing landscape for attractions

4th Jan 2021

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated closure of attractions changed everything… leading to internal conflict and change in needs in consumers.

SMEs - The overlooked audience

23rd Dec 2020

In this paper, originally presented alongside NewsUK at the 2020 MRG Conference, we look at how SMEs are often overlooked by advertisers.

Like the GDP figures, Q3 was somewhat better for SMEs than Q2, but challenges remain – the SME Finance Monitor provides an update

1st Dec 2020

How SMEs are faring in these challenging times with an update from the SME Finance Monitor to Q3 available

Hybrid Events – a summary of the (virtual and physical) landscape

27th Nov 2020

In this blog, James Bland provides an overview of hybrid events. Which could be a major opportunity for hotels and venues following the changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

International Schooling in a Post COVID-19 World

19th Nov 2020

As Pfizer and Moderna announce COVID-19 vaccines with 90% efficacy, we might at last be able to think about a real ‘Post Covid-19’ world.

My 2020 summer holiday abroad: a nightmare or a pleasure? What we can learn about overseas leisure travel in the months to come

22nd Oct 2020

August 2020 was a month filled with so much promise and excitement at the start of the year. Even at the start of April, I was confident that it would go ahead as normal. By early July, everything hung in the balance.

Behind the doors of visitor attractions: How has it all changed during Covid-19?

12th Oct 2020

With limitations on what can be open, some attractions have chosen to change their pricing. In this blog, we explore the ways in which organisations are responding to these ‘restrictions’.

How have mortgage intermediaries adapted in the face of a pandemic?

2nd Sep 2020

As the Government encourages more people to return to the office, we have been looking at how businesses are responding.