Development Bank of Wales report flags improved finance conditions for Welsh SMEs amid uncertainty
Reuters2026/09/09 10:41- Development Bank of Wales published the Economic Intelligence Wales annual report 2025/26, flagging improved SME credit availability despite persistent uncertainty.
- Gross lending to small firms rose 51% in Q1 2026 versus a year earlier; 50% of UK SMEs used external finance.
- Lenders reported stronger demand from smaller firms; credit availability increased across small, medium, large businesses in Q1 2026.
- FSB confidence index stayed deeply negative at -52.5; economic conditions remained the main constraint on SME growth.
- Wales recorded more closures than start-ups in Q1 2026; exports slipped 0.5% to £19.1 billion in the year to March 2026.
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