Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector
Characteristic
Percentage of SMEs
All SMEs
9%
Wholesale / Retail
17%
Hotels and Restaurants
15%
Manufacturing
12%
Agriculture
11%
Construction
9%
Other
7%
Health
7%
Property / Business Services
6%
Transport
5%
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In 2024, approximately nine percent of SMEs in the UK saw access to external finance as a major obstacle for the next twelve months, with 17 percent of wholesale / retail enterprises seeing this as an obstacle. Â
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BDRC Continental. (March 1, 2025). Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/
BDRC Continental. "Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector." Chart. March 1, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 31, 2026. /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/
BDRC Continental. (2025). Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 31, 2026. /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/
BDRC Continental. "Share of Small and Medium Enterprises (Smes) Which Saw Access to External Finance as a Major Obstacle in The next 12 Months in The United Kingdom as 2024, by Sector." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Mar 2025, /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/
BDRC Continental, Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/ (last visited July 31, 2026)
Share of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which saw access to external finance as a major obstacle in the next 12 months in the United Kingdom as 2024, by sector [Graph], BDRC Continental, March 1, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/291755/access-to-external-finance-as-a-major-obstacle-to-small-and-medium-enterprises-sme/
