UK private businesses are hyper-local, generating the majority of revenues from their immediate geographic location with little interest in international markets.

That is one of the key conclusions from a new piece of research from accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves, which has offices in Canterbury, Chatham and Sandwich.

The research – in a report called Going for Growth: UK Company Growth Strategies to 2021 – finds that a third (32%) of UK private businesses generate between 50-100% of their revenues from their immediate geographic location. Some 18% are hyper-local, generating between 75-100% of their revenue locally.

In addition, 56% believing their immediate geographic location is the most attractive market for future growth. Over a third (35%) of businesses have no international aspirations at all.

Some 24% of businesses surveyed generate up to a quarter of their revenues from Europe, compared with 21% from North America and South America, 23% each from the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and 22% from Australasia.

Resourcing international expansion holds back 28% of businesses, with a further 27% saying lack of experience is the main barrier.

The survey was conducted over the summer of 2018 and is based on the views of 530 privately owned businesses from across the UK, 80% of which with a turnover below £25million.

The report aims to better understand the hopes and aspirations of businesses towards growth and the barriers to growth as Brexit draws ever closer.

Andrew Griggs, senior partner at Kreston Reeves said: “Too many UK businesses are thinking local when our world is increasingly global.

"Whilst it is true that businesses will continue to grow in their domestic markets, the lack of international ambition at a time when UK businesses should look to wider international markets has to be worrying.

“A quarter of businesses told us that they simply do not know how to access international markets, which suggests that all the time, effort and money successive UK governments have invested in encouraging UK businesses to expand internationally is just not working. There is clearly more that can be done.

“The advice and support businesses need to support international expansion is quite straightforward. They want help in identifying customers, partnering opportunities to spread risks and better government support and incentives. Accountants and other advisers also need to play a greater role in advising businesses on international growth.”

The lack of international ambition at a time when UK businesses should look to wider international markets has to be worrying

Other key findings in the report included 60% of businesses have grown by more than 25% over the past three years, with 58% remaining positive they will grow by more than 25% over the next three.

Meanwhile, 47% see Brexit as a business opportunity, with 45% saying their growth plans have been positively affected by Brexit. Just 24% perceive Brexit as an obstacle and only 24% think it has negatively affected their growth plans. The remaining businesses remain uncertain.

Mr Griggs added: “UK businesses are bullish about future growth, despite the uncertainty in the economic and political landscape. They are, however, sensibly cautious about how future growth will be funded, turning to retained profits or organic growth.

“It is surprising, however, that given political and economic uncertainty is considered the primary barrier to growth, that so few businesses scenario plan and prepare for future uncertainties. We would expect to see and encourage more businesses to prepare for future threats to their revenue.”

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.