1、MAY 2024BACKING BRITAINS SMALL BUSINESSES:FUNDING CIRCLES 2023 IMPACT2Backing Britains Small Businesses:Funding Circles 2023 Impacttrabantos/S3Backing Britains Small Businesses:Funding Circles 2023 ImpactTABLE OF CONTENTSMAY 2024Executive summary 41.Small business year in review 61.1 SMEs continued

2、to navigate significant challenges 61.2 These challenges continued to impact all SMEgroups 81.3 Green shoots are emerging despite the challenging economic conditions 92.Funding Circles 2023 economic impact 112.1 Funding Circle continued to support SMEs with access to finance across the UK in 2023 11

3、2.2 Funding Circles data and technology boosts access for those seekingfinance 142.3 Funding Circles UK economic impact 153.Funding SMEs growth in 2024 173.1 Boosting accessibility to funding for SMEs remains crucial 73.2 Funding Circle is meeting the diverse needs of SMEs with an evolving financial

4、 ecosystem 18Appendix:Methodology 19Cover image:andresr/iS4Backing Britains Small Businesses:Funding Circles 2023 ImpactSmall and medium enterprises(SMEs)continued to face challenges in 2023,characterised by tighter monetary policy placing pressure on their finances.Demand concerns were at the foref

5、ront for SMEs in 2023,whereas in previous years,supply chain issues and rising costs were their primary concerns.Despite this,there was evidence of continued strength,as more than three quarters(78%)of SMEs felt that the economic challenges they faced during the year increased the resilience of thei

6、r business.The three distinct groups of SMEs that emerged during the pandemic,continued to navigate the challenges they faced in a similar way.They can be categorised into the following groups:Survivorsthose most negatively impacted by the economic environment;Hedgersthose focused on precautionary m