More than 27% of small business owners across the United Kingdom fear the closure of their businesses over the next six months, while 42% are striving to avoid closure as energy prices skyrocket, and almost 80% face recruitment difficulties. Revealing this, a research study conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Meta said that while 56% of small businesses already operate below their installed capacity, around 26% are consuming less electricity to save on bills. Small businesses in the manufacturing and hospitality segments are the ones having the maximum difficulties in recruiting staff. Meanwhile, UK’s current unemployment rate at 3.5% is at its lowest level since 1974.
