In the first business survey conducted since the EU referendum date was announced, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed the results of a snap poll of more than 4,000 UK small business owners.
The poll found that small businesses in Wales were amongst the most likely in the UK to have made up their mind about which way to vote on June 23. However, a third (33%) still said they could still be swayed. Across the UK as a whole 42% said they could still be persuaded by the referendum campaigns.
Businesses questioned in Wales were also more likely to say that they were informed or very well informed about the forthcoming referendum than those in the UK as a whole, with a figure of 44% in Wales, compared to 38% across the wider UK.
However, more than half (52%) of UK members and 46% of those in Wales surveyed said they do not feel informed about the EU referendum, which suggests a growing number are ready to demand answers from both ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaigns once they are appointed.
When asked what members needed more information on: almost half (48%) of UK members said the economic impact on the UK, 38% noted they needed more detail on the administrative burden of complying with regulation and 33% asked for more detail on the cost of EU membership.
So what percentage would rather leave?
I took part in this survey as I am a member of the FSB. The figures are 47% yes (To staying in), 41% No and the rest undecided. Many firms who do business with the EU are convinced to vote yes, around 80% if I remember corectly but these are a small percentage of the total as most small businesses and large businesses do not trade with the EU but with another UK country or other countries outside the EU.