Important Insights
A concise annual pulse check on Scotland’s SMEs.
The SME Scotland Survey is Elevator’s annual benchmark designed to track the experiences of business owners and senior decision-makers across Scotland. Each year, the survey captures sentiment on growth, investment, skills, exporting, technology and the role of local communities – creating a clearer, data-driven picture of what Scotland’s SMEs need to succeed.
Why?
Across Scotland, many established SMEs tell us they sit in a “missing middle” – too advanced for early-stage support, but not yet at scale-up level where more specialised help becomes available.
This survey exists to make those voices visible.
By listening directly to SME leaders each year, we can highlight where confidence is growing, where barriers remain, and where support could be better aligned to real business needs.
What the Survey Explores
Each annual edition gathers insight on key themes, including:
- Confidence and business performance
- Barriers to growth and access to finance
- Engagement with Scotland’s support ecosystem
- Rising costs and operational pressures
- Innovation, technology and AI adoption
- Leadership, governance and business infrastructure
- Exporting and international ambition
- Community impact and community wealth building
The results provide valuable insight into the experiences and priorities of SMEs across Scotland.
2025 Results at a Glance
The 2025 survey provides a snapshot of the confidence, challenges and priorities shaping Scotland’s SME landscape this year. Key insights include:
- 75% of SMEs are confident about the year ahead
- 52% increased revenue over the last financial year
- Two in three SMEs say they need more external support
- Access to finance is the biggest barrier to growth
- 73% are already using AI in their business
- 84% know where to go for business support
- 80% say local community is important to business success
- 39% export outside the UK
Download the full report to explore the findings in more depth.
“While it’s encouraging to see the level of confidence in the Scottish SME sector, the survey has also revealed that the nation’s SME leaders want more external support, and that there are national disparities. Crucially, access to finance and understanding finance options remains a serious issue for businesses across the country.”
Strategy Story
Kate Hooper, Managing Director and Founder of Inverness-based Strategy Story
“After seven years in business, 2025 brought an intense period of business development, fuelled by external training and innovation support. As a result, we enter 2025 stronger than ever, with big ambitions and firm foundations, while staying deeply connected to the community we love.”
Midton Acrylics
Graham Ramsay, Director at Lochgilphead-based Midton Acrylics
“As a growing SME, we’re hugely optimistic about the year ahead – particularly as we have embedded AI and new technologies into our processes, freeing our team up to focus on creativity, innovation, and delivering even more value to our clients.”