Resilience and optimism
Two of the traits that will define the future of Scotland’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) according to Aberdein Considine’s 2025 SME Business Survey, are resilience and optimism.
Conducted earlier this year, the research captured a comprehensive snapshot of the views of more than 400 business owners from across four key sectors in the SME community: energy, retail, food and drink, and hospitality.
Despite highlighting that they are currently operating in a very challenging environment with considerable obstacles to growth, that sense of resilience and optimism was reinforced by many businesses expressing a strong desire for company growth in the year ahead.
This is despite what might be seen as a headline figure where more than 80 per cent of respondents expressed concerns about the viability of their business across the next 12 months.
Some of the contributing negative factors affecting all surveyed sectors range from rising costs and supply chain disruption to the lasting effects of Brexit on staff recruitment and retention and cross-border trade.
Notably, more than a third cited government policy changes as the biggest obstacle to their growth, indicating that every new tax or regulation can feel like another barrier to the marketplace.
Backing this up is a demand for clearer, more consistent support from government for SMEs and a hope that, less than a year out from the next Scottish Parliament elections, policymakers take action to assuage these rising fears for the future.
2025 SME Business Survey
The survey did bring out a number of positives. The desire to grow is reinforced by 39 per cent of respondents saying they intend to prioritise growing their workforce over the next 12 months, indications of a business community taking proactive steps to prepare for future growth.
Other SME priorities for the year ahead include expanding customer base, improving cash flow, adapting to regulatory change and increasing operational efficiency.
Across the gamut of Scottish SMEs, the survey recorded positive sentiments relating to the energy transition with 58 per cent of respondents saying they feel hopeful about the benefits that can be brought about by decarbonising our energy system. In line with this, more than half (52 per cent) said they are planning to invest in sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives over the next 12 months.
A return to the office
Interestingly, 90 per cent of Scottish SMEs say they view a return to full-time office working as a priority over the coming year, a surprising statistic that at first glance seems at odds with a society that is increasingly pushing for flexibility and work-life balance.
However, SMEs are run by tight-knit teams, relying on the informal exchange of ideas, spontaneous problem-solving and a strong sense of team identity as the lifeblood of their business – all of which are harder to inspire virtually.
Approaches to in-office working will vary depending on individual business needs and circumstances, but flexibility has now become key for many people in their roles.
A ‘return to the office’ shouldn’t be shorthand for going backwards. Instead, it could be viewed as an opportunity to reimagine what the office is for, becoming a space for collaboration, creativity, and culture-building.
Scotland’s economic success is deeply intertwined with the fortunes of its SMEs who account for 99 per cent of the workforce, and policymakers should take note of their concerns.
Long-term viability doesn’t just depend on grit alone – it also requires a supportive, stable policy environment that empowers businesses to thrive.
By addressing the doubts highlighted in this research, policymakers can support Scotland’s SMEs in strengthening resilience and creating a positive outlook for the future at a time when both are sorely needed.
Partner Content in association with Aberdein Considine
