Research and analysis

Small Business Survey 2012: credit risk analysis

Provides in depth analyses of the 2012 Small Business Survey findings based on the credit scores of respondent businesses.

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Complements the Small Business Survey 2012 by providing in depth analyses of the credit scores of respondent businesses, using the Dun & Bradstreet system.

Dun & Bradstreet credit risk scores are assigned to businesses according to a number of criteria including the nature of the business, negative actions such as court actions or failure to pay debts, data on individual company Directors, and predictive scores on the likelihood of financial distress in the coming 12 months. The scores are used by some to assess creditworthiness, and on decisions whether to grant finance.

The Dun & Bradstreet system is just one of many in use in the UK. However, by profiling those with different credit scores, and analyzing their performance generally, it might be possible to see why certain Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) attract poorer credit scores, and the obstacles that are faced as a result of them.

This report is based on SME employers only.

Published 31 May 2013