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Small businesses are concentrating their time and efforts into sales and marketing strategies to offset difficult trading conditions.

With the UK technically out of recession but the threat of a double-dip still looming, many SMEs are upgrading their websites, creating new marketing strategies or hiring sales staff to help their companies grow despite the current economic climate.

In research carried out by the Forum of Private Business (FPB), 44% of companies were anticipating that their firm would grow as a result of their sales and marketing push.

"These findings are quite encouraging and show there's a healthy amount of fighting spirit among smaller firms," stated Thomas Parry, Research Manager for the FPB.

"We appear to be seeing an upturn in confidence among SMEs and, by investing in sales and marketing strategies, small business owners are showing determination and entrepreneurial flair."

However the research also uncovered that many small businesses had a “relatively high level of debt”, and 48% of business owners had needed to provide personal guarantees for loans.