SME short-termism could stump government plans

Government messages on investment & growth, MTD and net zero are not reaching outside of London, adding to the SME north-south divide.

Results of the ACCA UK and Corporate Finance Network (The CFN) SME Tracker show that Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are most frequently seeking accountants’ professional advice on immediate issues such as routine compliance, business planning and cashflow, rather than future plans for growth, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and R&D innovation.

For ACCA and The CFN this indicates a concerning trend amongst SMEs where they aren’t spending time thinking about the long-term survival of their businesses.

The latest edition of the SME Tracker captures the feedback of 8,900 UK SME clients through their accountants, revealing what’s impacting SMEs over April 2022.

Analysis reveals a north-south divide for SMEs regarding their compliance with and awareness of a key government scheme – Making Tax Digital (MTD). Half of advisors in London say SMEs will be ready to comply with the MTD scheme, compared with just 17% outside of London. MTD aims to remove paper-based tax filing, and presently involves online submission of VAT. In the future, it will cover Corporation Tax and Income Tax too.

Across the UK, SMEs also remain unaware about the government’s flagship Help to Grow scheme, which aims to increase SMEs’ productivity. 42% of accountants say their SME clients have not enquired about it or do not know what it is. A further 43% of accountants say that less than 10% of their clients have mentioned the scheme at all. The north-south divide exists here too with SMEs in London more likely to be aware of the scheme with 16% of accountants reporting that over half of their client base was enquiring about it, compared to just 3% of accountants outside of London.

Accountants’ feedback says that SMEs are mostly asking them for help with routine business-related issues such as tax compliance, access to finance and chasing late payments - rather than guidance about investing in their future growth and preparing for important government developments such as MTD, eligibility for R&D support, and improving ESG impact. Startlingly, just 10% are actively looking to improve financial resilience to grow their teams.

Glenn Collins, acting head of ACCA UK, says: ‘Government strategies to spur investment for the future are not cutting through with SMEs who seem to be taking a short-term approach, coupled with a belief that schemes are not applicable or relevant to them. SMEs outside of London also need a comms boost to ensure they’re part of the levelling up agenda – the government can do this by working with intermediaries and the UK’s local authority infrastructure.’

Kirsty McGregor, founder of The Corporate Finance Network, adds: ‘It’s concerning that government interventions to aid efficiencies or growth are not landing as they should with SMEs, especially outside of London. While accountants, professional bodies and networks are offering advice, what’s also needed is a co-ordinated and targeted government communications programme for SMEs to keep them appraised on what’s available and the reasons they should be accessing these schemes’

– Ends –

For media enquiries, contact:
Helen Thompson
E: helen.thompson@accaglobal.com
www.accaglobal.com
@ACCANews

Notes to Editors

About the ACCA UK and The CFN SME Recovery Tracker: This edition has sought views from accountants working in accountancy practices cumulatively advising some 8,900 SME clients and a separate additional survey of in-house finance professionals working across 31 private businesses. The data for this poll closed on 28 April 2022.

About ACCA: ACCA is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. We’re a thriving global community of 233,000 members and 536,000 future members based in 178 countries and regions that upholds the highest professional and ethical values.

We believe that accountancy is a cornerstone profession of society that supports both public and private sectors. That’s why we’re committed to the development of a strong global accountancy profession and the many benefits that this brings to society and individuals.

Since 1904 being a force for public good has been embedded in our purpose. And because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, we build a sustainable global profession by re-investing our surplus to deliver member value and develop the profession for the next generation.

Through our world leading ACCA Qualification, we offer everyone everywhere the opportunity to experience a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. And using our respected research, we lead the profession by answering today’s questions and preparing us for tomorrow.

ACCA and CA ANZ have formed a strategic alliance for the benefit of members and to help shape the future of the profession. Find out more about us at accaglobal.com

About The Corporate Finance Network: The Corporate Finance Network – www.thecfn.org.uk - The Corporate Finance Network consists of some of the most proactive and commercially astute regional, independent accountancy firms in the UK. They specialise in providing corporate finance advice for smaller transactions.  Kirsty McGregor can be contacted at info@TheCFN.org.uk

"Government strategies to spur investment for the future are not cutting through with SMEs who seem to be taking a short-term approach, coupled with a belief that schemes are not applicable or relevant to them. SMEs outside of London also need a comms boost to ensure they’re part of the levelling up agenda – the government can do this by working with intermediaries and the UK’s local authority infrastructure."

Glenn Collins, acting head of ACCA UK

"It’s concerning that government interventions to aid efficiencies or growth are not landing as they should with SMEs, especially outside of London. While accountants, professional bodies and networks are offering advice, what’s also needed is a co-ordinated and targeted government communications programme for SMEs to keep them appraised on what’s available and the reasons they should be accessing these schemes."

Kirsty McGregor, founder of The Corporate Finance Network,