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Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the North West face a "big productivity and sustainability challenge", according to a new report published by NatWest.

The bank has published the findings of its 2021 Small Business Report, an industry wide review into UK SME recovery, conducted in consultation with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

NatWest conducted research with more than 1,000 UK SMEs, and analysed over 100 reports and support programmes globally to identify the barriers to SMEs reaching their potential.

The report, which will be shared with the UK Government as it develops the Help to Grow initiative, "identifies that SMEs often struggle to find a support programme that is tailored to their needs".

The bank has said that only one in five SMEs find the right programme and decide to enrol on it and just one in 20 SMEs receive a significant productivity boost by changing their business after taking part in a programme.

NatWest added that "better targeted and personalised support" could unlock a £140bn prize equivalent to c.400,000 new SMEs in the UK economy.

Source: https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/north-west-smes-face-productivity-20286444