Experts at James Todd & Co Highlight the Importance of SMEs to the UK Economy
Oct 29, 2026
Independent Chartered Accountants, James Todd & Co, explains how financial advice can help SMEs plan for growth
Chichester, England, United Kingdom, October 29, 2026 -- James Todd & Co, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors and Business Advisers supporting established and growing businesses with accountancy expertise and financial guidance across Chichester, Fareham, West Sussex, Hampshire, London and the wider South of England, has highlighted the importance of helping small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) grow, as they contribute to local economies while also navigating financial pressures.
SMEs have been found to account for 99.9% of the UK business population and 60% of private-sector employment, according to 2025 government estimates reported by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), with private businesses increasing by 191,000 between 2024 and 2025.
Why SMEs Are Essential to the UK Economy
Michelle Buzzard, FCA, Partner at James Todd & Co explains that ‘It’s common for corporations and multinational giants to have greater visibility, but in reality, smaller businesses make significant contributions, securing jobs, providing services and creating career opportunities.
The FSB’s report puts this in context and reflects the importance of supporting these businesses. This is especially relevant when they are dealing with immediate financial pressures, ensuring companies make forward-looking decisions about investments, growth and their workforces, backed by reliable financial expertise.’
The FSB’s summary of the government's Business Population Estimates for 2025 shows that:
- The UK's 5.7 million SMEs account for around half of private-sector turnover
- An estimated £2.8 trillion is generated by small and medium-sized businesses
- Small businesses alone, or those with fewer than 50 employees, account for 99.2% of the business population
- They employ an estimated 13.1 million people and generate around £1.9 trillion in turnover
These figures demonstrate the importance of smaller firms beyond their individual commercial successes, with SMEs in sectors such as retail, technology, construction and professional services contributing to employment, supply chains and economic activity across a wide range of industries.
How Accountancy Support Can Help Businesses Grow
Access to timely, accurate financial information can help business owners understand more than how their revenue is changing, or how much they might hold in reserves. Regular reporting can provide insight into metrics like profitability, operating costs, expansion opportunities and potential issues that need addressing.
Regular bookkeeping, management reporting, budgeting and forecasting can help owners identify emerging issues and make better-informed decisions, such as recognising rising costs, reviewing pricing, planning for recruitment or assessing whether the business can afford to invest in new equipment.
Michelle clarifies that, ‘For start-ups and growing businesses, having suitable financial processes in place earlier on can help create a stronger foundation for future growth. As transaction volumes and operational demands increase, maintaining clear records and reviewing performance regularly can become increasingly important.
And, for ambitious businesses that might currently be SMEs, having the right support in place can mean that being able to evaluate their potential to grow, expand into new areas or invest in their capabilities from a financial viewpoint can give them the ability to reach their objectives and goals faster, with the stability they need to succeed.’
James Todd & Co supports businesses with a range of accountancy and advisory services, alongside resources such as its Business Growth Tips hub, helping owners access the financial information and practical guidance they require. Its bookkeeping support can help businesses maintain accurate records, monitor key figures and gain a clearer understanding of their financial position.
Why Businesses Require Accountancy Support at All Stages
While SMEs make up almost the entire UK business population, their needs can vary substantially. A newly established business may need help understanding its financial obligations, for instance, while a more established company may be more focused on reviewing profitability, considering expansion or preparing for a change in ownership.
Having an adviser who understands the individual business and its growth goals can help ensure that the relevant financial information is both available and put to practical use, rather than being viewed only as a year-end requirement.
James Todd & Co works with businesses at different stages of development, combining accountancy expertise with a relationship-led approach to helping clients make informed decisions and build stronger businesses. Its Goals to Growth service is specifically designed to support businesses looking to work towards their growth ambitions.
About the company: James Todd & Co is an independent firm of Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors and Business Advisers with over 30 years’ experience supporting established and growing businesses across Chichester, Fareham, West Sussex, Hampshire, London and the wider South of England. The firm’s services include bookkeeping, management accounting, audit, tax and business advisory, alongside business growth support, with mentoring and coaching. The team helps clients stay compliant, understand their numbers and make confident business decisions.
Contact Info:
Name: Oliver Read
Email: Send Email
Organization: James Todd & Co
Website: http://www.jamestoddandco.co.uk
Release ID: 89207640
If you come across any problems, discrepancies, or concerns related to the content contained within this press release that necessitate action or if a press release requires takedown, we strongly encourage you to reach out without delay by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our committed team will be readily accessible round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take appropriate actions to rectify identified issues or support with press release removals. Ensuring accurate and reliable information remains our unwavering commitment.
How to use AI in marketing without opening a single dashboard
Every Monday, as a marketer, I used to open nine tabs: Google Analytics, Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools the newsletter platform, the social scheduler and four ad accounts (Google/Meta/LinkedIn/TikTok) I would export, paste, reconcile and start thinking at about 11am. I do not open those tabs any more. Now, on any given Monday, I type […] The post How to use AI in marketing without opening a single dashboard appeared first on e27.
China’s microdrama war heats up as Tencent, ByteDance fight for eyeballs
Shen Jiaoqi, a banker living in southern China’s Guangdong province, cannot stop watching microdramas. The shows are so addictive that she sometimes spends entire days gazing at her phone. One time, she even kept watching while she showered. “Honestly, I was watching for the eye candy rather than the plots,” she said. “The AI has really made the characters look stunning.” Shen is far from alone. Microdramas have exploded in popularity in China over the past few years, offering viewers a quick...
Every department you add makes your startup harder to understand
Open 10 startup websites. Cover the logos. Shuffle the pages. Nothing breaks. “Revolutionising how finance works.” “Trusted by industry leaders.” Nobody asks which leaders. The usual diagnosis is lazy copywriting. It lets the founder off. The real cause is worse: she did everything right. Imagine a Series A software company. Watch one sentence travel through […] The post Every department you add makes your startup harder to understand appeared first on e27.
Thailand, not just Singapore, is Asia’s quiet AI surprise, says NetSuite’s Amit Suxena
Ask a typical AI assistant a question and it answers. Amit Suxena thinks that is already yesterday’s AI. “You don’t need AI where I ask a question and get an answer. I think that’s already passed,” says the GVP and Head of NetSuite Asia, who oversees Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Greater China for […] The post Thailand, not just Singapore, is Asia’s quiet AI surprise, says NetSuite’s Amit Suxena appeared first on e27.
SAFE Kids vs. SMART Kids: Is the Philippines ready?
MANILA, Philippines – I attended “SAFE Kids, SMART Policies: A Dialogue on Children’s Online Safety and Digital Rights,” organized by Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra at The Manila House on Thursday, October 22, to help get the discussion going and give the media, industry leaders, and fellow parents a better understanding of the two bills:
Treasury sanctions North Koreans, Russians for alleged IT fraud
The Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned 10 individuals and one entity involved in an alleged scheme to defraud American businesses to benefit the North Korean military. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned eight North Korean nationals and two Russian nationals, accusing them of facilitating a government-run information technology (IT) scheme to generate...
Kalshi defends Platinum program against scrutiny from Democrats
Kalshi argued Tuesday that its VIP program and platform are "fundamentally different" from those offered by sportsbooks, after several Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns over loyalty programs at both prediction markets and sportsbooks. In a letter shared first with The Hill, the company suggested Kalshi Platinum has no "predatory incentives" because of its distinct business model....
KISS's Gene Simmons on AI in music industry: 'Learn how to use it, otherwise it will use you'
Gene Simmons of KISS fame is urging the music world to get on board with artificial intelligence. The "Rock and Roll All Nite" singer was asked about his stance on AI on NewsNation's "The Hill with Blake Burman" on Tuesday, and whether the technology will be "good or bad" for music. The Hill and NewsNation...
Elon Musk, Jensen Huang have opposing outlooks on AI neoclouds. Who is likely correct?
As investor anxiety over an artificial intelligence bubble mounts, SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang have offered starkly divergent outlooks on whether the specialist cloud providers powering the boom can survive their mounting debts. While Musk has warned of impending collapses and consolidation among the more than 200 dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU) rental ventures known as “neoclouds”, Huang remains bullish, insisting that robust market demand will unlock the capital...
Shortly after featuring in the Asian Games, Pokémon UNITE to shut down
Pokémon UNITE will end service in March 2027, just months after featuring in the Asian Games in Nagoya, where the Philippines took home a bronze medal. The Pokémon Company announced on October 27 that the multiplayer online battle arena game will shut down on March 23, 2027, ending service on both Nintendo Switch and mobile
Huawei’s Tau Scaling Law roll-out reaches base stations in blow to US chip curbs
Huawei Technologies is already integrating elements of the Tau Scaling Law – a new chip design principle that helps the company overcome US export controls – into its wireless communications network, as it pushes for broader adoption across its products. The Chinese tech giant is using the “time compression” concept based on its Tau Scaling Law in its next-generation wireless base stations, according to a company statement released on Wednesday, and the new design is already delivering tangible...
Silicon Valley braces for firestorm of Dem scrutiny in 2027
Silicon Valley is bracing for a firestorm of scrutiny should Democrats take control of Congress next year, underscoring how the industry’s efforts to get on President Trump’s good side last year became a political liability. After two years of a GOP-controlled House and Senate, Democratic lawmakers are expected to bring the heat on tech firms,...
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.