SUPPORT has been offered to businesses in the North West that have overseas ambitions.

Deloitte’s North West practice is offering tailored support to businesses looking for new routes to growth under the firm’s UK Futures initiative. It comes as the largest businesses in the UK prepare to invest billions in growth-related initiatives this years as optimism returns to the corporate sector, according to research by Deloitte.

Two-thirds of leaders surveyed said business growth will come mainly from international markets, with 37 per cent forecasting overseas growth of more than 75 per cent in the next three years. Richard Bell, partner at Deloitte in the North West, said: “The low growth environment of the past five years, coupled with levels of consumer and government debt, mean that business has to take a lead in driving a new era of wealth creation in the UK.

80 per cent of respondents in our survey believe that business is best placed to do this.

“British business emerges from this hugely challenging period in reasonable health and with balance sheets bolstered to the extent where UK plc now holds in excess of £700bn in cash. This gives UK companies the firepower to invest for growth.”