The City may be awash with recessionary predictions, but this hasn’t dampened the mood of UK SMEs.

Three quarters (72%) of UK businesses stated that they feel confident about their future prospects this New Year, according to a recent poll from The Orange SMS Business Jury. New equipment or technology and extra holidays come out top of the wish list for business must-haves in 2008.

SMEs identified the credit crunch and weaker customer confidence (both at 23%) as potentially impacting on business performance in 2008. Owner Managed Businesses reported that they would also welcome greater support from Gordon Brown, with almost two thirds (62%) indicating that they do not believe he is providing enough real support to small businesses. One fifth of respondents (21%) predict that the proposed Capital Gains Tax reforms will, if implemented, negatively impact on small businesses.

The survey was conducted with a panel of just under 1,000 small business owners, managers and decision makers working for companies with up to 250 employees.

Neil Laidler at Orange Business Services UK, comments: "It is great to see that spirits are high - particularly in light of the current unpredictable economic climate."