The Aporia · Firms taking on new borrowing has doubled this year, survey finds

Firms taking on new borrowing has doubled this year, survey finds

Read the original at Evening Standard ↗

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Wise, A. (2026, October 11). Firms taking on new borrowing has doubled this year, survey finds. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/hsbc-gdp-middle-east-b1300391.html

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Quick Summary

According to a survey of over 1,000 UK business leaders, borrowing among firms has doubled this year due to cost pressures and increased tech spending. The study reveals that 82% of businesses are focused on reducing costs, while 79% prioritize cash flow and liquidity. James Cundy from HSBC UK notes that investment in technology and workforce skills is driving much of the new borrowing demand.

Written by AI on 2026-10-11, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The latest survey by HSBC UK indicates that UK businesses have doubled their borrowing this year, primarily due to cost pressures and investments in technology. The survey, which polled over 1,000 business leaders, found that 82% of firms are focusing on reducing costs while 79% prioritize cashflow and liquidity. James Cundy, head of mid-market corporates at HSBC UK, noted that many businesses are borrowing to manage ongoing cost pressures and invest in productivity improvements through technology and workforce skills. Additionally, some companies are using borrowed funds for mergers and acquisitions aimed at strengthening their market position.

Written for “Business Borrowing Surge” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

30%

3 of 10 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Economy/Business

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Anna Wise

81 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Also by Anna Wise

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2026-11-05 · Evening Standard

US stocks rally as traders welcome certainty after midterm elections

2026-11-04 · Evening Standard

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2026-11-04 · Evening Standard

Bank of England set to hike interest rates to 4% to tackle rising inflation

2026-11-04 · Evening Standard

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 81 articles by Anna Wise →

Narrative

Claims (10 extracted, 3 hedged)

The proportion of UK businesses borrowing money has doubled this year, as firms source funding to alleviate cost pressures and boost tech spending, a survey suggests. uncertain

survey → borrow → spending

The survey of more than 1,000 leaders at UK businesses signals that demand for lending has jumped this year. asserted

demand → signal → lending

The bank’s survey showed 82% of businesses identified reducing costs as a strategic priority, with and 79% prioritising cashflow and liquidity. asserted

% → show → cashflow

James Cundy, head of mid-market corporates at HSBC UK, said “some businesses will have borrowed to manage ongoing cost pressures”, with cost management and liquidity remaining “priorities” for management teams. asserted

management → say → teams

But he said: “Evidence suggests that investment is becoming an increasingly important driver of borrowing demand. uncertain

investment → say → demand

“We’re seeing many businesses focus investment on productivity improvements through technology and workforce skills, while others are using finance to pursue consolidation opportunities and strengthen their market position.” asserted

others → see → position

Firms targeting growth were more likely to take on new finance and to use the funds for mergers and acquisitions, according to the research. uncertain

Firms → target → research

Digital technology, research and development, product launches and expansion into new markets were the top planned uses of finance for the wider business population. asserted

technology → plan → population

Read More Recent businesses surveys have regularly shown investment into advanced technology like AI as bright spots in an otherwise challenging backdrop for businesses. asserted

surveys → read → businesses

The latest UK gross domestic product (GDP) figures showed the AI spending boom was a key driver of growth in July, with many of the businesses recording the largest turnover identified as being involved in activities relating to AI and cloud computing. asserted

many → show → AI

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Articles to 5 Nov 2026

Firms taking on new borrowing has doubled this year, survey finds

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Claims (10 extracted, 3 hedged)