Access to finance survey launched

A survey to gain an insight into how Oxfordshire businesses plan to fund their growth has been launched this week against a backdrop of renewed confidence and positive economic forecasts.

The latest Oxfordshire Business Barometer run by Withy King and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in association with The Oxford Times’ In Business magazine is now ‘live’ and local businesses leaders are being invited to share their views.

This quarter, the Barometer sets out to explore whether it is any easier to access finance than it was 12 months ago. Are businesses looking for financial assistance to help them grow or to what extent are many still debt averse and able to rely on their own cash reserves?

Richard Baxter, partner and head of the Corporate & Commercial team at Withy King in Oxford, said: “We are told that UK plc is sitting on a mountain of cash and those that are borrowing, are repaying their loans at a faster rate than the banks are lending. It will be interesting to compare and contrast these national trends with the experiences of SMEs in Oxfordshire.

“We hope the county’s businesses will get behind the survey and give us a real insight into what funding is required and for which areas of growth – and which options are proving the most popular. Importantly, it will help the LEP to identify any barriers and take the steps needed to address them.”

The survey results will be published in an eight page feature in the July issue of the Oxford Times’ In Business magazine as well as online, providing a platform for further discussion.

To take part in the survey, visit https://svy.mk/1ifvXeH or join the Oxfordshire Business Barometer LinkedIN group. All completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win an iPad Mini.