UK businesses are ahead of the US and Canada in the amount they are preparing to spend on IT next year, according to a report.
Small businesses in the UK intend to increase their IT budgets next year, according to a new report.
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) found small and medium-sized UK firms (SMEs) plan to spend more than their counterparts in the US and Canada.
A total of 772 SMEs responded to the survey and said they were being careful about spending in the face of a global recession.
However, they felt generally positive about their opportunities for growth.
UK companies said they would be investing more in their business, with 56 per cent planning an increase in their technology budget.
Last year the increase in spending on IT was 54 per cent.
CompTIA chief executive Todd Thibodeaux said: "In the past, tech spending might have been one of the first line items slashed in a tough economy.
"Today, SMEs are savvier because they rely on technology for an increasing amount of their core business operations."
He went on to say it was encouraging to see most SMEs plan to keep budgets the same or increase their technology spending.
Overall the companies questioned appeared to be upbeat about their growth prospects, with 85 per cent planning to hire new employees and 54 per cent expecting revenue growth of ten per cent or more.
However, Psion - the hand-held computers and designs wireless network manufacturer - has announced a slack order book has led to it cutting 200 jobs because companies are delaying spending on new technology.
The drop in orders is "particularly evident with larger and more complex projects where customers are deploying new IT solutions", Psion stated.
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