Midlands Business Storm Rannard

The majority of Birmingham's business community is optimistic in its outlook for the future of the region's economy, a new survey from Santander Corporate & Commercial has found.

The research revealed 57 per cent of businesspeople are optimistic when it comes to potential future growth, with just 5 per cent pessimistic. Almost half (48 per cent) think business sentiment will improve in the next 12 months, while 10 per cent hold a negative outlook.

John Simkins, regional director at Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: "It is great to see that SMEs and business professionals in Birmingham and across the West Midlands are clearly confident about the future, are positive on local employment and see exporting and international trade as key to the success of local businesses.

"It is encouraging to see such positive sentiment among business owners who are so influential on the local economy as well as the wider UK economy too."

The findings of the research were unveiled at Santander's Red Box event at Brindleyplace earlier this week (9 May 2016).