A third of small firms predict growth Analysis by specialist lender Novuna Business Finance shows that 32% of small business owners polled in Q1 are predicting organic growth this year. This is up from Q3 and Q4 2021, where 29% of small business owners forecast growth. However, Novuna, which was formerly known as Hitachi Capital, noted that the proportion of firms that think they will struggle to survive increased by 2 points to 7%. Joanna Morris, head of insight at the firm, said: “Overall confidence has now held firm for three consecutive quarters, with an important year-on-year improvement in businesses transitioning from contraction or standing still to predicting modest or organic growth. These are green shoots, a sign many are turning the corner, or planning to."