Privately held businesses expect finance to be more readily available this year, according to research from professional services firm Grant Thornton.

Privately held businesses expect finance to be more readily available this year, according to research from professional services firm Grant Thornton.

The survey of 500 unlisted companies finds that 44 per cent expect an easier experience of seeking funds this year than they had in 2009, compared to last year’s response of 8 per cent.

David Campbell, head of privately held businesses at Grant Thornton, says, ‘This increase in optimism supports the view that UK lenders are loosening the tight controls placed on finance as the economy begins to edge out of recession.’

However, Campbell adds that ‘concerns over demand for products and services are the biggest threats to expansion’, with 35 per cent of companies citing this as the greatest constraint to business growth.

The news comes as another jump in inflation raises fears of increased interest rates.