Be the Business is the UK's leading expert in SME productivity - offering you independent Intelligence, bespoke research & strategic advisory to become the leading voice on UK Small Businesses.
WE COLLABORATE WITH
A list of logo's from the following companies: Amazon, american-express-logo-black-and-white.png, Bae Systems, GSK, KPMG, Lloyds, bt_logo_2019.png, Accenture, Cisco, meta-facebook-rebranding-name-news_dezeen_2364_col_hero2.webp, McKinsey & Company, image.png, Deliveroo, Ey, image-(1).png, mace_group.width-630.png, microsoft-logo-png-full-colour.png, and Sage.
Become the authority on your SME market
Be the Business helps organisations become the authority on SMEs – combining independent intelligence, bespoke research and strategic advisory to turn market understanding into competitive advantage. We exist at the intersection of business intelligence, research, and practical advisory.
We are the only organisation that combines the UK's most detailed independent SME intelligence with nine years of hands-on expertise in what actually drives SME behaviour – and the advisory capability to turn both into competitive advantage.
What we do
Meet social value targets by supporting SME growth and innovation.
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Growth Accelerators - Innovating and growing your SME customers through a wrap-around accelerator
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The Productivity Programme - SME leadership and management development through provision of a non-exec advisory board, mentoring and wrap-around support.
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'Beyond the Hype' AI Workshops - SME AI adoption workshops for immediate behaviour change and action.
PBI STATISITCS
The Productive Business Index
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1M
SME data points -
8
Editions since 2021
Schedule your SME diagnostic call with our team.
See us in action
Take a look at some of our partner-sponsored projects
Deloitte: Procurement and social value
Demystifying public sector procurement and social value for SMEs.
BT: connecting with SMEs on cybersecurity challenges
Building SME relationships and product positioning.
Microsoft: Beyond the Hype
Making AI work for small businesses.
The Productivity Institute: AI Catalyst
Customised solutions for SME pain points.
BT: Launching a community of business leaders
3-year partnership: tech adoption to unlock SME potential.
Mastercard: Strive
Empowering ethnic minority businesses.
Meta: Rebuild and Recover
Productivity-enhancing support to SMEs.
Deliveroo: Tech Adoption Report
Tech adoption in the hospitality industry.
Behavioural Inights Team: App
Change through a habit-forming app.
Slack: The Secret of Productive work
An e-book on the journey to productivty.
SME Intelligence in action
Our approach
Independent Intelligence
Ongoing access to the Productive Business Index – a quarterly, behavioural picture of what UK SMEs are actually doing, not just what they report in annual surveys. Bespoke cuts by sector, region, or business characteristic give you a representative view of the specific SME population your department or programme is responsible for, updated regularly so your evidence base stays current.
Bespoke Research
Commissioned analysis and thematic deep dives focused on the policy areas that matter most to you – productivity, digital adoption, skills gaps, supply chain resilience, regional growth, financial health. These are publishable, credible outputs developed with Ipsos rigour, suitable for parliamentary briefings, policy consultations, programme evaluations, or public communication.
Strategic Advisory
Working alongside policy teams to translate what the data shows into practical decisions – how to target a programme, where current interventions are missing the mark, which SME segments are most underserved, and how to design evaluation frameworks that measure what actually changes. This is where evidence becomes effective intervention.
Schedule your free diagnostics call with our team.
What our partners say…
Leone Shaw, Customer Support, BT
"Easiest thing I've had to do at the moment"
Victoria Lawton, Leadership & Talent Management, BT
“This has given us positive oomph during a time of change at BT."
Bart van Ark, Managing Director, The Productivity Institute
“I am delighted by the launch of the partnership – a practical way for leaders of small businesses to learn from their peers and support one another in their drive to increase the productivity of their organisations.”
Premal Patel - Founder (Aveea), SME
“What stood out most was the genuine connection and engagement among the attendees – it was clear the event was designed with people in mind rather than just speakers flexing their knowledge!”
would you like to know more?
Every partnership we run is tailored to your audience, sector and geography. We listen to where you are with your SME ecosystem and co-design a bespoke initiative that gives you the authority on the SME market.
Get in touch - chat to a team member.
Trusted by top corporate partners
Evidence-based solutions to pressing productivity challenges
A list of logo's from the following companies: Amazon, american-express-logo-black-and-white.png, Bae Systems, british_land_hl1gaye.width-630.png, byrden_wood_logo_qoqehbx.width-630.png, GSK, KPMG, Lloyds, bt_logo_2019.png, Accenture, Cisco, Ey, meta-facebook-rebranding-name-news_dezeen_2364_col_hero2.webp, McKinsey & Company, image.png, Deliveroo, fronteir-economics.png, mace_group.width-630.png, mastercard-logo.png, microsoft-logo-png-full-colour.png, and Sage.
