Small companies plan £75bn capital investment

Small companies across the UK are planning to invest nearly £75bn in their businesses over the coming 12 months, according to a survey of small and medium-sized businesses.

The GE Capital poll shows that the vast majority – 92 per cent – of companies planned to plough funds into new computers, vehicles and the like.

However, despite having lost out on more than £8bn worth of new business as a result of out-dated equipment, the poll showed that UK companies still lagged behind their peers in Germany and France, who were looking to invest £130.7bn and £91bn, respectively, over the next year.