In the South East, business confidence jumped by 16 points to 38 per cent in February, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Amanda Dorel, regional director for the South East at Lloyds, said: "It’s encouraging to see South East confidence rise again this month. Nationally, UK business confidence held steady at 44 per cent. Looking ahead, firms identified key areas for growth in the next six months. In January, the South East’s confidence reading was 22 per cent, making February’s rise particularly notable.

Source: The Herald February 27, 2026 05:04 UTC