Around 59% of the 1,100 UK investors that participated in the survey commissioned by peer-to-peer share trading platform Asset Match, claimed they were not confident in the current government’s ability to support the private sector during and after the Brexit process.
Surprisingly, after removing May’s minority government from the equation, a sizeable portion of investors were bullish on the prospects for British businesses in the post-Brexit environment.
One in two investors went as far as to say that the UK will be in a stronger position economically following the negotiations.
A quarter of respondents predicted there would be no noticeable change over the two-year negotiating period.
Investors were the most confident about the future of entrepreneurs and SMEs after the UK’s divorce from the EU is finalised, with 57% agreeing that heightened global trading and export opportunities would present growth opportunities for fledgling businesses.
The same number of investors also viewed Brexit as the catalyst for UK companies in general to expand their footprint globally.
However, the majority of respondents also anticipate the current government will squander these opportunities.
Around 60% reported not being confident in the government’s ability to help small businesses flourish and 62% complained May’s administration was prioritising new-age sectors like fintech over traditional industries.
The disconnect between corporate and political sentiment means that the Conservative government “must now provide bold and confident action,” said Asset Match’s co-chief executive Stuart Lucas.
“Specifically, Theresa May and her Brexit team must demonstrate that they can make a success of the UK’s departure from the EU by enabling the private sector to seize the opportunities that are emerging,” he added.
