MOST entrepreneurs in Scotland expect to grow their businesses over the next year despite the uncertain economic outlook, writes Mark Williamson.

In a survey of business owners in Scotland, 91% of respondents told Deloitte they expected their firms to grow in the next 12 months. More than half expect to grow by at least 25% over the next three years.

However, Jim Boyle, head of entrepreneurial business for the accountancy giant in Scotland, cautioned: “There’s understandably an air of caution due in no small part to the ongoing uncertainty in Europe and the broader issues of access to funding and skills.”

More than half of the businesses surveyed (54%) said growth over the past 12 months had fallen short of expectations. The other 46% said their businesses had performed as expected or better.