Survey says 96 per cent of SMEs plan to grow in the next year

SMEs say banks are "very cautious" when it comes to lending

Almost half of SMEs surveryed are experiencing problems accessing finance Credit: Getty

A new survey has reported that 96 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are expecting to grow in the next year, with 37 per cent seeking finance to employ more staff.

The survey of almost 600 companies from all over Ireland reveals, however, that almost half are experiencing problems accessing finance, with funding difficulties possibly stunting planned growth.

The survey was commissioned by the Independent Finance Providers of Ireland (IFP), a ...