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With business confidence rising, UK companies are gearing up for a boom in investment and job creation, and eyeing up potential deals too.
After more than a year of cost cutting and fire-fighting the pandemic, firms are now focusing on post-lockdown investment plans, according to accountancy firm Deloitte.
Deloitte’s latest poll of financial chiefs at UK companies found they are the most aggressive about acquisitions in 11 years, as they look to expand quickly.
Over 70% of CFOs expect to boost capital expenditure and hiring over the year ahead – the highest level in almost seven years, which could help give Britain’s productivity a boost.
Richard Houston, senior partner and CEO at Deloitte, explains:
“We’ve seen a huge shift from the uncertainty caused by the pandemic to an appetite for acquisitions, investment and hiring. With the majority of finance leaders expecting a return to at least pre-pandemic…