Global middle market organizations, companies with annual revenues of US$1m-US$3b, are showing no signs of slowing down in the face of geopolitical uncertainty. Over one-third (34 percent) of middle market companies plan to grow 6 percent to 10 percent this year, far outpacing the latest World Bank global GDP growth forecasts of 2.7 percent, by more than 3 percent to 7 percent.

The findings released in the EY Growth Barometer, a first-of-its-kind survey of 2,340 middle market executives across 30 countries, reveal that in spite of geopolitical tensions, including Brexit, increasing populism, the rise of automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and skilled talent shortages, 89 percent of executives see today’s uncertainty as ground for growth opportunities. What’s more, 14 percent of all companies surveyed have current year growth ambition of more than 16 percent.

Annette Kimmitt, EY Global Growth Markets Leader, says: “The global economic backdrop is much stronger than what the prevailing narrative has been telling us. Despite geopolitical risks and uncertainties, businesses being disrupted through new technologies and globalization rewriting the rules of supply and demand, middle market leaders are not only attuned to uncertainty, but are seizing it to grow, disrupt other markets and drive their growth agendas.”

Growth ambitions vary across geographies

Despite facing two years of Brexit negotiations, start-ups (companies under five years old) headquartered in the UK are displaying the highest levels of confidence of the countries surveyed. UK start-ups are the most positive on current year growth ambitions with 26 percent seeking to grow by 11-25 percent and a further 23 percent looking at year-on-year growth of more than 26 percent.

However when looking at the largest markets, there are significant differences between the world’s largest economy, the US where slightly more than a third (35%) of all companies plan modest growth increases of under 5%, compared to the world’s two tiger economies – China and India – where together 42% of companies are targeting growth rates of 6% to 10%. Moreover, a quarter (25%) of companies in tiger economies has current year growth plans of 11% to 15%.

Technology and talent top the agenda

Executives identified technology and talent not only as the top two challenges facing the middle market C-suite today, but they are also seen as the tools by which they will overcome challenges and remain agile. Talent (23 percent) is cited as the top priority ahead of improved operations (21 percent), cutting red tape (12 percent) and beneficial agreements (8 percent) in a ranking of what is critical to meeting current growth ambitions.

A staggering 93 percent of executives see technology as a means of attracting the talent they need. New developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are improving the recruitment and selection process for innovative start-ups to find specialist talent.

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To fuel the growth ambitions of organisations, more than a quarter (27 percent) of middle market executives plan to increase their permanent headcount and a further 14 percent plan to increase the number of part-time staff. Reflecting the growing impact of the gig economy on work patterns and move to more contingent, skills-based workforce, almost one in five (18 percent) companies plan to use contractors to help power their high-growth plans and fill specific gaps or needs.

However, under these global results lie significant differences in hiring plans. A majority of US companies (55 percent) plan to keep current staffing levels flat, compared with 31 percent of all respondents. These plans are almost reversed among start-ups, 53 percent of which plan increases in full-time staff. Nearly quarter (23 percent) of all startups are also the most likely of all organisations to hire more contractors or freelancers.

Kimmitt says: “Middle market leaders are using technology to attract and retain talent, accelerate growth, improve productivity and increase profitability. Uncertainty has become the new normal, while geopolitical risks and trade barriers are influential factors, middle market companies are moving ahead with hiring plans.”

RPA does not spell RIP to talent

While only 6 percent of middle market organizations are already using robotic process automation (RPA) for some business processes, the dystopian vision of large-scale layoffs is not shared by these business leaders. 15 percent of all middle market executive respondents believe that, adoption of RPA will result in headcount reductions of less than 10 percent.

This illustrates the fact that middle market leaders are planning on the selective adoption of RPA to bring efficiencies to routine operations, but as an adjunct to human talent, not a replacement.

Macro risks to growth

Middle market leaders cited increasing competition (20 percent) as the number one external threat to their growth plans, followed by geopolitical instability (17 percent) and the cost and availability of credit (12 percent).

These threats were considered far more significant than financial headwinds of rising interest rates (8 percent), foreign exchange variance (8 percent) or commodity price volatility (6 percent). Leaders were twice as likely to cite competition (20 percent) as a risk than slow global growth (10 percent).

High-growth entrepreneurs are even more optimistic

As part of the EY Growth Barometer, the survey also measured 220 alumni of EY’s widely-acclaimed Entrepreneur Of The Year^® program. Active for more than 30 years, the network has programs in more than 60 countries and 145 cities worldwide supporting high-growth entrepreneurs.

High-growth entrepreneurs are planning significantly higher growth rates than overall middle market leaders, with one in five planning to grow by 6% to 10%, a further 20% by 11% to 15% and yet a further one in five by 16% to 25%.

Nearly one in four (22 percent) high-growth entrepreneurs are planning current year growth of more than 26 percent. Additionally, almost two-thirds (61 percent) of this group plan increases in full-time staff and 9 percent plan increases in the use of contingent or gig economy workers.

Kimmitt says: “Middle market companies are the engines for global growth, representing nearly 99 percent of all enterprise and contributing nearly 45 percent to global GDP. But high-growth entrepreneurs are not only more ambitious in setting growth targets, but prioritise differently from other mid-market leaders and businesses. High-growth entrepreneurs are not fazed by the kinds of seismic shocks that Brexit and other geopolitical upheavals present. They are developing agile and flexible strategies to work with uncertainty as the new normal.”

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