• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Monday June 30 2025

South West business confidence rises in June, as more firms plan to hire

Business confidence in the South West rose seven points during June to 52 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.

Companies in the South West reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 11 points at 63 per cent.

When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up three points to 40 per cent, this gives a headline confidence reading of 52 per cent (vs. 45 per cent in May).

A net balance of 42 per cent of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 18 points on last month.

Looking ahead to the next six months, South West businesses identified their top target areas for growth as evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (45 per cent), introducing new technology, such as AI or automation (36 per cent) and entering new markets (29 per cent).

The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.

Amanda Dorel, regional director for the South West at Lloyds, said: “June has been a positive month for South West businesses, with confidence continuing to climb after rebounding in May.

“We’ll be continuing to support the region’s businesses as they focus on their growth priorities – whether that’s steps like investments in new technology or entering new markets.”