Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as those occupying serviced offices in Edinburgh, "will play a crucial role in creating jobs" to help the economic recovery, it has been noted.
Russel Griggs, chairman of the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI's) SME Council, was commenting after research conducted by his organisation and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants revealed a third of firms asked used bank overdrafts for finance.
The report found that of those companies that had applied to money lenders for an overdraft, almost three-quarters were granted one.
According to the study, 29 per cent of similar-sized companies sought additional credit from suppliers in the past year, with nine in every ten requests being successful.
"This survey shows that SMEs are turning to a wider pool of funding options to get the credit they need to grow their businesses," Mr Griggs stated.
Last week, CBI director-general Richard Lambert welcomed the realisation that growth in the economy will be business-led, as suggested in a speech made by prime minister David Cameron.
