Despite the recent news on disappointing growth figures of the economy over the last quarter and the ongoing challenge for small businesses finding business finance, many are optimistic. Many believe that its simply a matter of time before the upturn comes and with neibhours France and Germany already showing growth it's difficult to disagree.

Some 75 per cent of SMEs say the economy will see an upturn in 2010, with 61 per cent confident about their business prospects for the coming year and 35 per cent predicting an improvement by January 2010, according to BT’s 2009 Business Pulse report.

Mike Hegarty, strategy director at BT, says: ‘Our findings show that we are at a tipping point. Despite the obvious knock to confidence, positivity about when the upturn will come is encouraging.’

Of the 7,200 respondents surveyed, 45 per cent say their business operates for the better as a result of the downturn – with 54 per cent of those reporting a reduction in spending and 26 per cent seeing an improvement in the way they market their business more effectively.

A number of organisations are already showing impressive growth figures while others are preparing for expansion. Business owners realise that they either need to be proactive and move forward despite the current climate or get left behind.