Four out of five businesses (81%) in the UK plan to grow over the next 12 months despite worries over the economy, according to HSBC in a survey which was carried out before ‘meltdown week’ in September. The survey for the bank covered more than 5,300 UK firms, from start-ups to corporate businesses.

It revealed that of those expecting to grow, 46% believe they will need to trade internationally to make that a reality. 

Pendragon, Britain’s largest dealer group, expanded abroad.

It still has outlets in America but withdrew from Germany in July 2007, 15 years after it established a foothold there.