A survey conducted among 20,000 small business managers by UK telecoms provider bOnline reveals that a majority (52%) remained undecided on their political backing until polling day on July 4th.
The survey, conducted after the main parties released their manifestos and Nigel Farage re-entered the political scene, found that 29% of respondents were undecided prior to the election, while 23% had firmly not made up their minds.
These findings echo a poll by the Federation of Small Businesses on June 7th, which showed that 20% of respondents had yet to decide on a party, and 33% had a tentative choice but were open to changing their minds.
Anthony Karibian, Founder and CEO of bOnline, noted, “Despite perceptions of a predictable election outcome, our data indicates a significant portion of the UK business community had not declared their voting intentions until the last moment. All parties face a significant challenge in mobilizing this influential audience.”
Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, commented, “Small business owners and the self-employed are astute and engaged voters. They carefully assessed the parties’ offerings for small businesses, crucial for economic recovery, innovation, and job creation across the UK.”
David Soffer, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of TechRound, added, “This data underscores the perceived lack of ambition and innovation from major political parties in supporting small businesses. SMEs require the freedom and support to thrive and contribute.”
As of early 2023, government statistics indicated there were approximately 5.6 million SMEs in the UK, down from the pre-pandemic peak of 6 million, employing 16.7 million people, representing 67% of the total workforce.
FSB’s survey indicated that 96% of business owners intended to vote, with decisions often finalized on the way to or at the polling station.
bOnline, a prominent provider of digital communication solutions for small and growing businesses across the UK, has been recognized with multiple industry awards.
