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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 locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 72888 · logged 2026-10-11
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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