Almost four out of 10 (37%) SMEs are planning to grow their management teams over the next 12 months, according to a survey of 1,400 companies commissioned by interim providers Odgers Interim SME.

Most respondents stated that finance, business development and research & development are the areas where they are planning to recruit in the short term. And 14% of organisations confirmed they would prefer to bring in a specialist interim expert over employing a full-time employee for these kinds of positions.

When questioned about their recruitment histories, 30% of respondents had used interims in the past and due to market instability, 51% are now more likely to employ an interim manager than they were before the economic downturn. 

When questioned about the value that interim managers offer, 81% of those surveyed said that they believed interims provided a ‘good return on investment’. 

Grant Speed, managing director of Odgers Interim, says: “It is really positive to see that many companies are looking to grow their senior teams and it backs up what our clients are saying to us on a day-to-day basis. We appreciate the outlook is still challenging but SMEs are, and will continue to be, vital to the UK economy, so signs such as these are very welcome.”