Britain’s economic outlook remains clouded by a complex mix of pressures — tariffs, global instability, bond market turbulence, and stubborn inflation. It’s an environment in which uncertainty often overshadows opportunity, and national headlines tend to reinforce a narrative of caution, if not paralysis. Yet look more closely — particularly at the UK’s regional economies — and a more nuanced picture emerges.

Here in the North West, there is a growing sense that, while conditions remain challenging, many SMEs are quietly adapting and, in some cases, performing remarkably well. It’s not optimism for optimism’s sake, but a pragmatic focus on the fundamentals that drive resilience: cash flow, people, productivity, and long-term planning.

At PM M, we advise a broad range of SMEs across the region — from specialist

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