3.2 million SMEs are collaborating with one another in order to fuel growth, with focus on outsourcing marketing & sales according to new research.

The research released by CitySprint, as annual report ‘Collaborate UK’ revealed that 3.2 million small and medium businesses are pooling their resources and outsourcing in order to achieve greater growth.

In particular the research found that SMEs are looking to bring in marketing and sales support and are working together in order to win new business.

The report is based on the opinions of over 1,000 SMEs across UK, and also shows that:

• A net 11% looking to hire but 49% still in ‘survival’ mode

• Familiar barriers of red tape (16%), limited access to talent (15%) and finance (13%) hindering growth

• 1m looking abroad for opportunities

• Nearly a third (29%) feel more prepared to take on bigger competitors for new business

Professor Robert Blackburn, Director, Small Business Research Centre, Kingston University, said: "SMEs turned to each other to maximise efficiency and output during the downturn and are now starting to collaborate in different ways. This includes a focus on bringing in support for functions which will help them grow their reach and market share, perhaps even into related activities and new geographical territories.”