• Increase in 9 out of 12 SME Business Indicators.
• Exports figures sound warning for SME economy. 
• Indigenous SME employment levels still need to be incentivised. 
• Economic uncertainty main concern followed by reduced orders and access to finance. 

ISME, Tuesday 2^nd April 2013. 

The first Quarterly SME Business Trends Survey for 2013, launched today (2^nd April) by ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, shows all 9 out of 12 indicators moving in a positive manner. However, the Association sounded a note of caution, based on the SME export statistics, which showed a marked decline in the quarter both in actual and expected exports. There is no doubt that the current business environment remains challenging, with weaker demand from the UK and Eurozone economies taking its toll on exporters which may delay the expected spill-over to the domestic economy. Read the rest of this entry »

ISME PRESS RELEASE                                               SME Business Trends Survey Q4. 2012                             

POSITIVE TREND IN KEY INDICATORS

GIVE REASON FOR OPTIMISM IN 2013

• Increase in all 12 SME Business Indicators.
•  Local economy shows signs of stability.
• Increased exports boosts outlook for SMEs trading internationally.
• SME employment needs to be incentivised to avail of potential.
• Economic uncertainty main concern followed by access to finance and reduced orders.

ISME, Wednesday 2^nd January 2013.

The fourth Quarterly SME Business Trends Survey for 2012, launched today (2^nd January) by ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, shows all 12 indicators moving in a positive manner. However the Association warned the Government against complacency, as the current business environment remains challenging with the need for less rhetoric and a more focused emphasis on Government cost control and jobs initiatives. Read the rest of this entry »

•    Reduction in SME investment a major concern.

•    10% of SMEs say they are less optimistic about business prospects compared to 2011.

•    Retail the most pessimistic sector of the economy.

•    Economic uncertainty is the major concern facing entrepreneurs.

•    Lack of effective pro-enterprise policies from Government delaying recovery.

ISME, 29th June 2012.

The second quarterly SME business trends survey results for 2012 from ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, shows a decline in SME business confidence and expectations about the future. The principal concern for entrepreneurs is economic uncertainty followed by reduced orders, access to credit and lack of Government action.
The survey was conducted at the end of June and had a response rate of 16% with 700 owner managers responding. Read the rest of this entry »

•Exporters leading the way but question remains as to whether recovery has begun.

•Domestic market still in doldrums, with retailers suffering badly.

•Economic uncertainty, access to finance, cost competitiveness are main concerns.

•Fiscal imbalance means structural reform essential – Croke Park must be revisited.

•Government Pro-enterprise policies essential to revitalisation of Economy.

ISME, Monday 2nd April 2012.

The first quarterly SME business trends survey results for 2012 from ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, confirms that business confidence among the SME sector has improved, with confidence levels at their best in five years. While a huge level of uncertainty still remains over the domestic economy, the export market and a portion of the international situation seems to be improving, led by improved figures from the US, both of these factors are having a positive effect on confidence. Read the rest of this entry »

•Nearly half of companies expect business conditions to deteriorate.

•Less jobs being shed, however employment creation prospects remain weak.

•Export performance powers ahead as domestic reliant businesses, particularly Retail, continue to struggle.

•Economic uncertainty, reduced orders and access to finance remain main concerns.
ISME, Wednesday 21st December 2011.
The fourth quarterly business trends survey results from ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, which attracted a response from 626 companies, confirms that business confidence among the SME sector continues to slide, with confidence levels at their lowest in two years. Business confidence has now fallen in every quarter this year, which is indicative of the huge levels of uncertainty that remains, not only about the domestic economy but also the situation internationally. The Retail Sector remains the most pessimistic (-50%), followed by Manufacturing (-36%), Distribution (-27%), Construction (-20%) and Services (-6%). Read the rest of this entry »

•Sharp deterioration in business confidence in latest quarter.

•59% of respondents view the business environment as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

•SMEs continue to shed jobs as employment prospects remain weak.

•Dip in exports, but overall figures remain positive.

•Economic uncertainty, reduced orders and access to finance, main concerns.

•Three year budget plan vital to addressing uncertainty and confidence.

ISME, Thursday, 29thSeptember 2011.

The results from the third quarterly business trends survey from ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, confirm that the SME sector continues to struggle through the on-going economic crisis, with only the export sector showing signs of recovery.  Business confidence among SME owners has dropped sharply in the last quarter and one in four companies (38%) expect trading conditions to deteriorate over the next 12 months. Read the rest of this entry »

• Dip in business confidence  in latest quarter.

• Employment prospects while still negative, are improving.

• Retail sector in ‘freefall’ as domestic economy continues to deteriorate.

• Export values at 10 year high.

• Widening gap between domestic and export performance.

• Economic uncertainty, reduced orders and access to finance main concerns.

• Improving confidence and stimulating consumer demand crucial to future prospects.

     ISME, Wednesday 6th July 2011.

The results from the second quarterly survey from ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, which attracted a response from 630 companies, confirm that while the trading environment remains extremely tough, particularly for domestic focussed businesses, there are a few positive signs, with better results on exports, employment and investment. The gap between the performance of the domestic and exporting sectors is widening, with export values at their highest in 10 years. In contrast, domestically reliant companies, particularly retail, continue to struggle.  Business optimism remains negative overall, with SME business owners, again mainly those involved in the domestic economy, less optimistic about their business prospects that they were at the end of the first quarter. Read the rest of this entry »