International Business

Grant Thornton’s latest International Business Report (IBR) reveals that the mid-market has high expectations for prospects abroad and is showing an eager appetite to invest.

Evolving supply chains and trade patterns amid ongoing global uncertainty.

Top five major constraints that are testing the mid-market’s ability to grow their businesses internationally.

Brand has been identified as a key driver of mid-market success when looking to grow and develop international business.

Key Leadership Skills to Expand Your Business Internationally

A new report issued by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined trends in small business contracting and the use of SBA programs in Puerto Rico from fiscal years (FY) 2006 through 2016.

After leaping back strongly from the darkest days of the pandemic, the global mid-market could only manage a small additional step forward in the second half of 2021.

COP26’s goal was to deliver radical change to save our planet. In the long term, there are good reasons to be hopeful.

The mid-market’s real prioritisation of sustainability not only reflects the growing expectation of stakeholders but the forward-thinking nature of this entrepreneurial segment. But few companies have made significant progress and many still face significant barriers. Understanding how you can overcome these barriers and integrate sustainability into your strategy and business operating model will create competitive advantage in the years ahead.

Mid-market businesses around the world want to accelerate their ESG and sustainability journey. But they’re going to need support to do so. Peter Bodin, CEO at Grant Thornton International Ltd, outlines his point of view on what governments, policymakers and standard-setters need to do to enable the mid-market segment to play its part in achieving the COP26 goals.

‘Uneven’ is how we described the impact of COVID-19 on different mid-market industries – both when assessing initial destruction in H1 2020 and the early recovery in H2 2020. Midway through 2021, it is really encouraging to see some of that unevenness disappear and more industries participating in the overall recovery.

Six months ago, our global research led us to conclude that there was a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for businesses to grow internationally. Normal opportunities bring the mid-market running. Once a generation opportunities bring a stampede, and this is exactly what has happened. A massive 45% of the global mid-market now expect their exports to increase in the next 12 months.

With COVID-19 related lockdowns and travel restrictions persisting in many parts of the world, airline operators, airports, lessors and support businesses are still in a precarious position.

For many businesses, 2020 was a year of turmoil. But for technology firms, it was a year of high growth potential.

For years, flexible working has been high on the agenda for companies looking to promote more women into senior management. With an enforced switch to remote working driven by COVID-19, there has been a seismic shift in attitudes to the potential and challenges of flexible practices. But will these changes become embedded in businesses?