Small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland are planning to invest for future growth, according to research from specialist lender and savings bank Aldermore. Its ‘Outlook 2016’ report found 45per cent the of Scottish businesses surveyed intend to hire more staff over the next five years to foster growth, while 46 percent plan to invest in new assets or technology to increase productivity. More than one in five SMEs intend to grow either through merger or acquisition. Only 12 percent claimed they would not be taking positive action to grow their business. Aldermore says “the vast majority of Scottish small and medium firms are in the growth business and making firm plans to achieve it”.