It was difficult to read the news or listen to a politician talk in 2025 without becoming dejected about the UK economy. Unemployment rose, public services remained overstretched and companies faced higher taxes from a government that came to office pledging to boost growth, only to dampen it.
So what explains the high spirits of so many entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom?
They are hopeful sorts by nature, but a recent global survey of company founders by HSBC’s private bank was still surprising. Three-quarters of those based in the UK were very positive about the business outlook and the country ranked first in the world for optimism, beating not only Europe but also the US.
This sounding was not an anomaly: other
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