Three in four West Midlands small businesses are planning to grow this autumn
75% of small businesses in Birmingham and the West Midlands are working on initiatives to secure future growth this autumn, up from 67% in September 2025, according to YouGov research for Novuna Business Finance.
New Novuna Business Finance research shows 75% of Birmingham and West Midlands small businesses are working on growth plans for autumn 2026, up eight percentage points on last year and second only to London. 23% plan to hire, and every one of the 11 sectors surveyed is up year on year.
Three in four small businesses in Birmingham and the West Midlands are working on plans to grow this autumn, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance.
The survey found 75% of small business owners across the region are working on initiatives to secure future growth, up from 67% at the same point last year. Novuna said that puts the West Midlands second in the UK, behind only London on 80%.
Hiring, kit and new markets
Almost one in four of the region's small business owners (23%) said they plan to hire new staff in the coming months.
Others are looking further afield or investing in their premises and equipment. Among those working on growth plans:
- 18% plan to invest in new equipment
- 11% are expanding into new overseas markets
- 11% are moving to a bigger office or location
The everyday work of running a sound business also features strongly. Two in three (66%) are focused on keeping fixed costs down, 43% on improving cashflow and 22% on managing late payment.
Every sector up on last year
Across all 11 industry sectors surveyed, a higher share of small businesses are working on growth initiatives than a year ago. Manufacturing leads at 84%, up from 69% in September 2025, followed by media and marketing at 75% (up from 61%), construction at 73% (up from 70%) and retail at 71% (up from 70%).
Transport and distribution, and finance and accounting, both rose to 70% from 63%. Real estate saw the strongest turnaround from a low base, climbing from 44% to 51%, and agriculture rose from 48% to 54%.
"A real sense of resilience"
Jo Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance, said the findings offered hope of improving business confidence across the West Midlands heading into the autumn months.
"The data conveys a real sense of resilience across the SME community," she said. "Three in four are taking steps to strengthen their business for the future.
"Many small businesses are focusing on measures to manage late payments and to protect cash flow, whilst others are investing in new machinery and looking at efficiency gains that can help improve profitability. Taking a flexible approach gives small businesses greater scope to plan ahead and invest in opportunities that power future growth."
About the research
The research was conducted online by YouGov for Novuna Business Finance among a representative sample of 1,000 small businesses across the UK.
Novuna Business Finance provides asset finance, stocking finance, block discounting and sustainable project finance to businesses across the UK, supporting sectors including transport, agriculture, construction and manufacturing. It is a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC and was named Best Leasing and Asset Finance Provider at the 2026 Business Moneyfacts Awards.
Research findings and photograph supplied by Novuna Business Finance.
This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
How many West Midlands small businesses are planning for growth in autumn 2026?
75% of small businesses in Birmingham and the West Midlands say they are working on initiatives to secure future growth this autumn, up from 67% in September 2025, according to YouGov research for Novuna Business Finance. That puts the region second in the UK behind London on 80%. Almost one in four (23%) plan to hire new staff in the coming months.