he Referendum result revealed some deep geographical divisions among UK voters. Our Slideshare looks at some of the regional differences among UK businesses in the Steps to Growth survey and finds reasons for optimism across the country.

1. Steps to Growth:
AMBITION
Breaking Down the Geographical Differences

2. We spoke to 300 owner-managed businesses, from
across the UK, about their growth ambitions over
the next 12 months

3. of owner-managed businesses
believe their best days are
ahead of them
7O%
OPTIMISM BY REGION
OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN THE NORTH-WEST
WERE MOST POSITIVE

4. The North-West has started to benefit as
investors widen their horizons from London
and Edinburgh and start to look at micro
investments in other cities
“
”- Billy MacLeod, Regional Director for Scotland,
Allied Irish Bank (GB)

5. OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN WALES WERE ALSO POSITIVE
of owner-managed businesses
there were optimistic about
their prospects
61%

6. OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN SCOTLAND WERE LEAST POSITIVE
of owner-managed businesses
there believe their best days are
ahead of them
35%

7. OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN THE NORTH-EAST
WERE ALSO LESS OPTIMISTIC
of owner-managed businesses
there believe their best days are
ahead of them
38%

8. JOB CREATION BY REGION
SCOTLAND AND THE SOUTH-WEST WERE MOST
POSITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO JOB CREATION
18% and 17% of owner-
managed businessess
respectively in those areas
expect to increase their
payroll by more than half
in the next 12 months.

9. 29% of owner-
managed businesses
there expect to
downsize in the
next 12 months
THE NORTH-WEST WAS LESS POSITIVE

10. GROWTH BY REGION
OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN LONDON WERE
MOST OPEN TO GROWTH
51% have both a strong appetite for growth
and a plan in place to make it happen

11. OWNER-MANAGED BUSINESSES IN SCOTLAND WERE LEAST
SURE ABOUT DEFINITE GROWTH PLANS
have a strong appetite for
growth and a plan in place to
make it happen
describe themselves as open
to growth
12%
53%

12. For more on the regional and geographical differences
on doing business in the UK, read the Steps to Growth
Report in full:
aibgb.co.uk/steps-to-growth