North West small firms passing on fuel costs, says survey

Jul 4 2008 by Tony McDonough, LDP Business

However, despite businesses in the north citing the fuel crisis as having a major effect on their operations, small firms in the North West are slower to present a solution to the problem than other parts of the UK.

Nine per cent of businesses in the North West are responding to the fuel crisis by reviewing their company vehicles and making plans to introduce more efficient models – this figure is 31% less than in the West Midlands (40%).

Dave Golding, Bibby Financial Services spokesman for Liverpool, said: “The fuel crisis is on everyone’s minds at the moment and has become a very public issue overnight.

“This survey gives a voice to the impact that heightened transport issues, particularly surrounding fuel costs, are having on Britain’s small and medium sized businesses.

“There are many companies already carrying out and planning solutions to the problem of increased fuel costs, which is encouraging but the majority of businesses are yet to take action.”