The small-and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturing sector recorded its highest levels of business activity and new orders since the end of 1999, according to the 'PKF SME Index', a quarterly survey of 800 SMEs operating in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.
After the traditional summer lull experienced by many manufacturing companies, there is clear evidence from the respondents of 'increased demand', 'export orders up' and 'increasing demand from existing customers' since the end of the holiday period.
