Small and medium-sized businesses across the engineering and manufacturing sectors will have the opportunity to make their views heard through the next SME Snapshot Survey, which launches on 26 January 2026.
The survey, led by Enginuity, is designed to capture the real experiences, priorities and pressures facing SMEs and feed this evidence directly into discussions with government and policymakers. By gathering insight from businesses operating at the sharp end of the sector, the survey helps ensure that policy decisions on skills, education, industrial strategy and the supply chain are informed by day-to-day reality.
The first SME Snapshot, published in July 2025, represented the views of 135 employers, covering more than 6,500 employees and a combined £1.1 billion in sales. Its findings informed direct engagement with HM Treasury and contributed to discussions with the Department for Business and Trade, Skills England and the Department for Education. The report was also widely referenced across sector and regional media, helping to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs.
Building on this work, Enginuity has since established the Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs. The Centre acts as an independent hub focused on ensuring the collective voice of SMEs and the wider supply chain is clearly represented in policy discussions. Insight gathered through the SME Snapshot survey plays a central role in this work, providing robust evidence that can be used to support constructive dialogue with government.
The timing of the 2026 survey is particularly relevant. With the Autumn Budget, reforms to post-16 education and skills, and proposed changes to apprenticeship assessment all expected to shape the business landscape in the year ahead, it is important that the perspectives of SMEs are properly reflected. Issues such as recruitment, skills shortages, costs, confidence and supply chain resilience remain critical for many businesses across the sector.
The CEA is supporting the SME Snapshot Survey and encouraging eligible members to take part when it opens in January. Participation offers SMEs a practical way to highlight the issues that matter most to them and to contribute to a wider evidence base that is used to inform national policy discussions.
Further details on how to take part will be shared closer to the survey launch. Information on the SME Snapshot and previous reports is available on the Enginuity website.