150,000 companies face collapse if public sector contracts go: R3

150,000 companies face collapse if public sector contracts go: R3

Almost 10%, or 148,000 of small businesses fear they could be pushed into insolvency if they lose their public sector contracts, according to research by R3

150,000 small businesses face insolvency if their public sector contracts are
cancelled, the trade body for the insolvency profession has warned.

According to research by R3, almost 10% (or 148,000) of small businesses fear
they could collapse if they lose their public sector contracts.

In the backdrop of business failures hitting 26,000 for the whole of 2009,
this ‘worst case’ scenario would result in a surge to current levels of
corporate insolvency.

R3 President Steven Law said: “It is of course highly unlikely that all
public sector contracts will be withdrawn and the figure of 150,000 business
failures would represent a worst case scenario.

“Yet with the prevalence of small businesses in the UK and an increasing
reliance on public sector contracts dating back to 1990s, these cuts are likely
to be felt extremely keenly.”

One third of small businesses describing themselves as ‘reliant on contracts
from the public sector’.

The research also found that 11% (or 173,000 businesses) would be in ”
serious financial trouble” if their public sector contracts were pulled. 24%, or
377,000 businesses would see their profit reduced. 16% (253,000 businesses)
would be unable to fund expansion. 14% (216,000 businesses) would consider job
losses.

“Businesses need to be aware of this risk and seek professional advice before
this reliance on public sector work threatens their survival,” Law added.

“We have just seen the recent case of the Connaught collapse, blamed on local
authorities deferring spending on contracts after cuts.”

Further reading:

Business
insolvencies to surge from public sector cutbacks

Public
sector finance arms struggling before spending cuts: PwC

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