Challenges and Opportunities for Growth and Sustainability 2009

In the first tracking survey of growth-oriented entrepreneurs through the recession, Delta Economics finds that:

• Turnovers fell by 18.5% between 2008 and 2009
• Despite this, immediate challenges to growth experienced by entrepreneurs remain similar to those in 2008
• Entrepreneurs value the support that they get from a whole range of different advisers
• There is a real difference in the types of support that businesses access as they get older.  Entrepreneurs seek many different types of advice when they first start.  As the businesses grow, they get targeted advice from professional advisers and more general informal support from networks and other entrepreneurs
• Where support from professional advisers is targeted, entrepreneurs said that it has a positive effect on their business