‘Almost 50% of businesses at risk’

Nearly 50% of businesses are at risk of failure, according to research undertaken by business intelligence service Vision-net.

Stress tests of nearly 10,000 firms by the company judged that 49% are at high risk of failure — with most of these trading in the volatile sectors of hospitality, construction and retail.

“The trading conditions remain very challenging for companies, with many of them — particularly those in the hospitality and construction sectors — struggling to stay afloat as consumer demand remains weak and the property market continues to stagnate,” according to Vision- net’s managing director Christine Cullen.