Unlocking Growth: Empowering Small Business Owners in 2025: A Fresh Perspective
Sabine Leveiller, serving as the Marketing Vice President of Europe at VistaPrint, brings over two decades of marketing strategy experience to the table. As we step into 2025, many U.K.-based small business owners (SBOs) will be looking back on their accomplishments and planning for the future, despite the socioeconomic uncertainties and significant political changes they've faced.
Despite these challenges, SBOs remain resilient and optimistic about the new year. VistaPrint surveyed 1,000 U.K. SBOs aged 18-64 to understand their experiences from the past year and future outlook. Notably, the majority (56%) would still encourage their friends and family to venture into entrepreneurship, with Gen Z demonstrating the most enthusiasm.
As the U.K. moves forward, it's crucial to nurture this optimism and furnish both existing and aspiring SBOs with the tools needed to expand their businesses during the second half of this decade. The nation's overall success depends on it.
Financial Support Remains Pivotal
Financial issues persist as the most significant hurdles for U.K. businesses, according to our research. The cost of living (74%), escalating material costs (39%), and limited access to funding (32%) remain the leading concerns for SBOs. While personal savings or family assistance can offer a short-term boost, sustaining growth requires further financial support.
Our data highlights the substantial obstacle presented by limited access to finance, particularly for businesses trying to scale. Astonishingly, only 1% of small businesses receive grants to aid their growth endeavors. Collaboration from business and entrepreneurial leaders could play a vital role in changing this scenario.
Make Your Mark in the Crowd
The business landscape has become increasingly competitive, with households tightening their purse strings in the U.K. In this environment, building brand visibility has grown even more critical, especially for startups facing competition from established competitors. Over a quarter (26%) of our survey respondents identified high marketing costs as a significant limitation holding back their progress.
Marketing a business effectively need not be complicated or pricey. SBOs just require assistance in identifying and utilizing affordable or free resources, along with training on how to apply these tools to their businesses.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
VistaPrint's data shows that while 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) exist in the U.K., almost half (45%) have paused their growth plans in the past year, with a quarter (27%) focusing solely on staying afloat. The challenging economic climate should not deter ambitious small business owners. While funding is essential, networking and support from the business community can also drive growth.
Entrepreneurs can benefit from connecting with peers and other potential partners, customers, and investors, which may ultimately be the key to unlocking their next phase of growth. The abundance of opportunities to make these connections necessitates informing SMEs about available resources and encouraging their participation.
Capturing the Enthusiasm of the Next Generation
The passion and drive of younger generations for entrepreneurship are inspiring. As we welcome 2025, we encourage the wider business community to view the new year as a chance to reflect and contemplate ways to support SBOs in navigating the next 12 months.
For those interested, VistaPrint's Website Communications Council is an exclusive community for executives in public relations, media strategy, creative, and advertising agencies. If you believe you qualify, feel free to check it out.
Sabine Leveiller, with her wealth of marketing strategy experience, could provide valuable insights and guidance to U.K. SBOs facing financial challenges, helping them navigate the affordability of marketing tools and resources.
Given Sabine Leveiller's expertise in marketing strategy, her involvement in nurturing the enthusiasm of younger generations interested in entrepreneurship could be particularly impactful, as they grapple with high marketing costs and the need to build brand visibility in a competitive landscape.
