In order to provide business leaders and companies with a up-to-the-minute barometer of their peers’ confidence and outlook for the coming year the Regus Business Confidence Index Report analysed the opinions of over 16,000 business managers and business owners from 86 countries. In addition to enquiring about revenues and profits over the past year, and about their revenue expectations for the next 12 months, the report also analysed their views on factors that had caused particular corporate distress during the downturn, stability creating policies for future growth and cost saving measures that do not hinder company growth.

1. Walking the
Tightrope
Regus Business Confidence Index
Issue 6
April 2012

2. Management summary
As business confidence stabilises, companies are
looking for additional ways of containing and reducing
overheads while also driving growth.
The latest Regus Business Confidence Index, based on over 16,000 interviews
across the world, shows business confidence levels stabilising, after experiencing a
significant fall in the previous edition (September 2011).
Surprisingly, confidence has increased more in counties that were initially hit hardest
by the downturn, suggesting that reform and/or economic stimulus measures
may be having a beneficial effect. Globally, the proportion of companies reporting
revenue growth remains unchanged on six months ago while a slight squeeze on
profits is revealed.
Mindful of the need to contain costs in the quest for sustainable growth, companies
are looking for ways of capping overheads without reducing their competitive
advantage. This latest edition of the Regus Business Confidence Index reveals that
‘lack of access to capital”, ‘inflexible office overheads’ and ‘high/inflexible distribution
costs” have contributed most to corporate distress over the last few years.
In order to reduce costs without damaging growth prospects, companies
worldwide are prioritising ‘shortening supply chains’, ‘reducing fixed office costs
with more flexible arrangements’ and ‘increasing use of cloud IT applications’ as
their key initiatives.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 2

3. Key findings & statistics
• The latest Regus Business Confidence Index, which incorporates both forward
looking statements and actual performance factors, reveals that global optimism
is stabilising – down only 1 point to 113 since autumn 2011. This signals that
the marked decline in confidence (-11 points) reported between March and
September 2011 has arrested and gives grounds for hope in a return to the
confidence growth trend recorded between April 2010 and April 2012.
• This new research from Regus shows that revenue and profit growth remain
largely stable since September 2011 with no variation in companies reporting
revenue growth from September 2011 to March 2012 (51%) and 40% reporting
profit growth compared to 42% six months earlier.
• 75% of businesses expect their revenues to rise in the next twelve months.
• Respondents identified key factors that contributed to corporate distress during
the slowdown as:
• lack of access to cost effective capital (47%)
• paying for unnecessary fixed office space (45%)
• and inflexible margins paid to distributors or resellers and
introducers (44%)
• In order to achieve cost savings without damaging growth prospects companies
identified key cost-cutting initiatives such as:
• a shorter supply chain (40%)
• fixed office space reduction through more flexible options (39%)
• and more ‘cloud’ IT applications (39%)
• These findings highlight that businesses are emulating the efforts of global
governments to identify areas for belt-buckling that will not affect growth and are
particularly keen to increase flexibility within their operations.
• Top initiatives to provide growth sustainability and stability were identified as:
• a wider distribution of customers (45%)
• and more flexible working conditions for staff (37%)
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 3

4. Confidence and business
size correlation
• The research found that large businesses are more optimistic than their smaller
counterparts with a Business Confidence Index rating of 124 compared to only
107 for small businesses.
• A greater proportion of large businesses identified permanent staff redundancies
as one of the main reasons for distress in the economic slowdown (47%) than
small businesses (41%).
• More small businesses (40%) than large businesses (34%) identify greater use
of pay-as-you-go business services as key for cost saving highlighting a strong
propensity to opt for more flexible operations.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 4

5. Introduction
At the start of 2012, the world economic outlook
remains uncertain as the Eurozone crisis continues to
affect global markets. Consumer confidence in India
and China remains high according to Nielsen1 although
emerging economies are expected to be affected by
slower internal demand during 2012.2 In order to provide
a backdrop for this latest edition of the Regus Business
Confidence Index, it is necessary to paint a picture
of current financial and economic indicators around
the world, which show the measures being taken by
government and central banks to support economic
growth in their country or region. Seen in the light of
these supportive measures, readers may choose to
conclude that the stabilisation of business confidence
revealed in this report is evidence of their success.
Consumer The IMF confirms this outlook predicting that the Eurozone economy will enter
a mild recession in 2012 due to the rise in sovereign yields, the effects of bank
confidence in deleveraging, and the impact of further fiscal consolidation. In particular, Eurozone
India and China funding contracted to such an extent that the European Central Bank (ECB)
offered a three-year Long-Term Refinancing Operation (LTRO) lending €529.5
remains high billion ($712.81 billion) to 800 lenders in March 2012 in addition to the €489.2 billion
dispensed in late December 2011 to 523 banks.3 In the UK alone in 2011, the Office
of National Statistics reports that businesses spent the lowest amount since 1993
in acquiring other businesses indicating that lack of access to finance still weighs
heavily on their prospects.4
In the USA, however, the IMF reports an unexpectedly positive trend in business
capital investment and a strengthening of consumption as consumers reduced their
savings rates. The National Federation of Independent Business also predicts a
possible increase in domestic demand as businesses plan to rebuild stock after fully
56 months of inventory liquidation.5 In spite of this increasingly rosy picture, the IMF
shows concern about any decrease in stimulus spending.6
1
Nielsen, Consumer confidence, concerns and spending intentions around the world, Q4 2011
2
The IMF, World Economic Outlook Update, 24th January 2012
3
The Wall Street Journal, ECB gives banks a big dollop of cash, 1st March 2012
4
The Guardian, UKplc shuns domestic acquisitions as business confidence falls, 6th March 2012
5
Reuters, Small business confidence at year high in February, 13th March 2012
6
The IMF, World Economic Outlook Update, 24th January 2012
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 5

6. Introduction
Further dampening In emerging BRIC economies growth has also slowed slightly and in China in
particular higher interest rates and contracted private sector credit have affected
of foreign trade housing investment and foreign trade. Further dampening of foreign trade activity will
activity will be be caused by weak world demand. As a result the OECD predicts a muted real GDP
growth for China in 2012.7 Similarly in India volatility in global markets and particularly
caused by weak disquiet in Europe reduced inflow of foreign capital in the past year.8 On the other
world demand hand in Brazil, although growth has slowed down, natural oil and gas reserves, plus
increasing domestic demand, place the country in a position to potentially overtake
the UK as the world’s sixth largest economy.9 The Brazilian economy, now reportedly
worth $2.5tn, is reported by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia de Estatistica to have
grown in the fourth quarter last year by 0.3% on the previous quarter.10
In the UK on the other hand, where unemployment rose by 28,000 to 2.67 million
in the three months to January 2012,11 the Office for Budgetary Responsibility
(OBR) predicts a further rise in unemployment levels.12 A joint report by the IMF
and the OECD reveals that the UK is currently one of the weakest economies in
the G20, although a ray of hope was cast by approval in Brussels of the National
Loan Guarantee Scheme; a £20 billion programme aimed at increasing lending to
small businesses.13 It is felt that the Eurozone is heavily affecting the UK’s economic
prospects although within Europe prospects are mixed. On the one hand French
statistical agency Insee reports that in the last quarter 2011 the French economy
grew 0.2% (a contraction had been predicted),14 while Germany, so far representing
a bullish exception in Europe, actually experienced a decrease in export levels and
slower domestic consumption.15
7
OECD, China Economic forecast, November 2011
8
Business Today, Euro Crisis to keep Indian markets volatile: Economic survey, 15th March 2012
9
BBC News, Brazil ‘Overtakes UK’s economy’, 6th March 2012
10
Blottr, Brazil economy slows down and grows 2.7% in 2011, 6th March 2011
11
BBC News, UK unemployment rises by 28,000 and reaches 2.67m, ONS reports, 14th March 2012
12
The Guardian, Budget 2012: the OBR predictions for the UK economy, 21st March 2012
13
Daily Mail, Britain is among the worst performing economies in G20, says grim report, 15th March 2012
14
The China Post, France’s economy grew 1.7 percent in ’11, 16th February 2012
15
The Irish Times, Sagging exports hit German economy, 24th February 2012
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 6

7. Regus Business
Confidence Index
As governments in developed economies are forced to
urgently curb their debt through fiscal policies and cost
cutting measures, and emerging economies struggle
to maintain growth momentum and formulate significant
monetary policies in an uncertain economic climate,
global business is trying to make its suggestions and
requirements for future growth heard by policy makers.
Although revenue growth at global level remains the
same at 51% in March 2012 compared to six months
ago, profits have felt a slight squeeze. Nevertheless, fully
75% of businesses expect revenue growth in the next
six months and are clear on their preferred growth-saving
cost reduction measures.
In order to provide business leaders and companies with a up-to-the-minute
barometer of their peers’ confidence and outlook for the coming year the Regus
Business Confidence Index Report analysed the opinions of over 16,000 business
managers and business owners from 86 countries. In addition to enquiring about
revenues and profits over the past year, and about their revenue expectations for
the next 12 months, the report also analysed their views on factors that had caused
particular corporate distress during the downturn, stability creating policies for future
growth and cost saving measures that do not hinder company growth.
The Wall Street Journal, The dreary Dutch economy in 2012, 23rd February 2012
16
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 7

8. Growth expectations
As governments try to provide long-term solutions
to Eurozone instability, it seems that global business
confidence is finally stabilizing with the proportion of
companies reporting revenue and profit growth largely
similar to that reported six months ago.
The majority of major world economies report stable or unaltered revenue growth
with Mexico, the UK and the USA reporting the greatest positive variation. In spite
of this upturn, countries where the largest proportion of companies report revenue
growth remain Germany, and emerging economies Brazil, India and China. Canada
where companies reporting revenue growth remain stable may expect significant
improvement of conditions in the future as Canadian commercial lending reportedly
increased for the fifth time in the last quarter 2011 and reached its highest level
since 2009.16
Firms reporting revenue growth, September 2011 vs March 2012
Brazil
India
China
Germany
Belgium
Canada
Global Average
Mexico
France
USA
Australia
S. Africa
UK
Netherlands
Japan
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
April 2012 September 2011
The Wall Street Journal, The dreary Dutch economy in 2012, 23rd February 2012
16
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 8

9. Growth expectations
Companies reporting profit growth have decreased slightly since September 2011
with a near stall in China, South Africa and Belgium and a decline in Brazil.
This contrasts sharply with the positive portrait revealed by Mexico where the
largest increase in companies reporting both profit and revenue growth is found.
The UK and the USA confirm that they have ground for an increase in confidence
with more companies having increased their profits in the past six months. Japan,
Germany and the Netherlands report a double digit drop. The Dutch economy is in
fact expected by the European commission to contract 0.9% in 2012 mainly due to
high household debt.17
Firms reporting profit growth, September 2011 vs March 2012
India
Brazil
China
Germany
Global Average
Canada
USA
Australia
S. Africa
Belgium
Mexico
UK
France
Netherlands
Japan
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
April 2012 September 2011
Reuters, Canadian business borrowing heats up in Q4- Pay Net, 15th March 2012
17
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 9

10. Regus Business
Confidence Index
Every six months the Regus Business Confidence Index
presents a view of global Business Optimism. This index
is a measurement formed on an aggregate of positive
statements combining year-to-date revenue and profit
trends with views on the timing of the full momentum
of economic recovery and aims to provide businesses
across the globe with a barometer of business
confidence and expected growth. The benchmark
average for the index was set at 100 in the first publicly
published edition of in September 2009.
In this iteration of the survey global business confidence has stopped plummeting
and is stabilizing with a slower drop in business confidence, down just one point to
113 – contrasting with the massive -11 point variation between March and September
2011. While emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China remain the highest
scorers Germany also confirms its place as third most confident nation in spite of
a negative variation on September 2011. Japanese prospects have undergone the
greatest drop in confidence while the UK and the USA, western economies most
gravely hit by the downturn reveal a significant increase in optimism, an important
vote of confidence for measures taken by policy makers in these countries to
safeguard business growth while stemming deficit.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 10

11. Regus Business
Confidence Index
September 2011 March 2012 Variation
Global Average 114 113 -1
UK 87 91 4
USA 90 105 15
France 110 103 -7
Germany 139 132 -7
India 145 143 -2
China 128 130 2
Belgium 112 103 -9
Netherlands 99 90 -9
Brazil 146 148 2
S. Africa 115 117 2
Japan 96 82 -14
Australia 114 114 0
Canada 114 113 -1
Mexico 102 109 7
Business Confidence Index, March 2012
Brazil
India
Germany
China
S, Africa
Australia
Global Average
Canada
Mexico
USA
Belgium
France
UK
Netherlands
Japan
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 11

12. Growth-driven cost savings
Global markets continue to present only a fragile balance
and businesses globally, although keen to pursue new
growth paths are hedging their bets by continuing to look
for areas in which to make savings but only if these do
not affect growth.
Globally the majority of businesses identify shortening the supply chain (40%),
reducing fixed office space (39%) and using more IT cloud applications (39%) as
the key cost saving areas that will not damage growth in the future. Highlighting that
greater flexibility is felt to be an ideal way of making economies without hampering
development an increased use of pay-as-you-go business services (38%) was also
identified by a large number of respondents.
Top three ways to save cost without damaging growth Global average
Shorter supply chain 40%
Reducing fixed workspace 39%
More cloud IT applications 39%
On a country by country basis, a shorter supply chain was identified as a key cost
saving area by more French (49%), Chinese (47%)and UK (45%) companies than
average with only just over a quarter (26%) of Japanese companies highlighting this
as an effective measure. Japanese companies are, however, more likely than average
to identify IT cloud applications as ideal cost reducing initiatives (43%). Businesses
in the Netherlands (49%) and South Africa (45%) are particularly concerned with the
reduction of fixed workspace costs, a concern shared by only a quarter (25%) of
Chinese companies.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 12

13. Growth-driven cost savings
Top three saving areas that will not undermine growth
50%
37.5
25.0
12.5
0.0
France
China
UK
Germany
Mexico
Belgium
Canada
Netherlands
Global Average
S.Africa
India
Australia
USA
Brazil
Japan
Shorter supply chain Reducing fixed workspace More cloud IT applications
Respondents were also asked to identify what they felt had been the main factors
contributing to corporate distress during the downturn. In particular, access to cost
effective capital was identified by almost half of respondents (47%). Fully 58% of
companies in the USA and India report that access to capital was a major difficulty in
the downturn as do 56% of Chinese businesses and 55% of UK respondents. Only in
Germany (28%) less than a third of respondents identified difficult lending conditions
as a hindrance.
In the UK in particular, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has been active
voicing concerns over lack of lending to smaller firms. An FSB survey released in
February 2012 reveals that in the UK between 2007 and 2010 there was a 24% fall in
successful small business loan applications compared with only 9% in Germany and
calls for public investor accounts and asset-backed lending to be brought into the
£1bn Business Finance Partnership. As small businesses account for around 70% of
employment in the USA and China it is no wonder that they are to be seen as a major
engine of economic growth.18 Fortunately, in the USA the Thomson Reuters/PayNet
Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall volume of financing to
U.S. small businesses, reports that lending to small firms grew 18 per cent in January
year on year. In China in February 2012 the People’s Bank of China said it would cut
its high reserve requirement by 0.5% to help increase lending.19
Empowering SMEs Worldwide: The Alibaba Story, Brian A. Wong, May 2008; http://www.asiapacificforum.com/sub/sub_news/ns_20100318_smes.html
18
CNN, China eases bank restriction to boost growth, 20th February 2012
19
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 13

14. Growth-driven cost savings
Main reasons for corporate distress during world economic slowdown
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
USA
India
China
UK
Australia
S.Africa
Global Average
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
Belgium
France
Netherlands
Japan
Germany
Access to cost effective capital Paying for unnecessary office space Inflexible margins paid to distributors/resellers/introducers
Other reasons for corporate distress were the cost of unnecessary office space,
a concern that is confirmed in identifying the reduction of fixed office space with
an area for cost saving. In particular Indian, Canadian and Brazilian companies felt
that being bound to unnecessary office space was detrimental to them during the
downturn. By contrast Belgian and French companies were the less affected by
unnecessary workspace costs and more concerned about inflexible margins paid to
distributors or resellers and introducers in the economic slowdown than average.
Businesses were also asked to identify the initiatives that they believed would be
most likely to contribute to economic stability in the future creating a solid ground for
growth. In particular, businesses identified a wider distribution of customers as the
best initiative to provide stability. This complements previous reports that the majority
of firms globally are looking to expand abroad in the next few years.20 Predictably
emerging economies are more likely to venture abroad in their dynamic quest for
growth, while businesses in the Netherlands, Canada and France appear to be more
confident in their existing markets.
Regus, The Export Imperative, January 2012
20
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 14

15. Growth-driven cost savings
Initiatives most likely to contribute to stable and sustainable growth
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
China
Germany
Brazil
S.Africa
Mexico
Global Average
USA
Japan
Australia
Belgium
India
UK
Canada
France
Netherlands
Wider distribution of customers More flexible working conditions for staff Flexible workspace
Felxibility also featured prominently both in terms of conditions for staff and in terms
of location, further confirming that during the slowdown global business learnt to
shy away from lengthy fixed arrangements and is opting to remain nimble to achieve
growth. Brazilian companies are particularly keen to opt for flexible workspace,
followed by companies in the Netherlands and Germany while flexibility for employees
is particularly sought out by companies in France and Japan.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 15

16. Optimism and business
size correlation
The Business Confidence Index confirms a difference
between the confidence levels of small firms and large
businesses. Globally large businesses are 17 points
more confident than their smaller counterparts confirming
the trend uncovered six months ago.
Business confidence by company size
Large Business
Medium Business
Small Business
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
September 2011 March 2012
Some interesting differences arise between small and large businesses’ best cost
saving strategies with large firms clearly opting for shortening the supply chain,
reducing fixed office space and an increasing use of IT cloud applications. Smaller
businesses instead put an increased use of pay-as-you-go business services at
the top of their cost saving measures followed by another flexibility enhancing
initiative such as reducing fixed workspace. A positive sign of the intentions to
grow expressed by smaller firms is the preference for economising by increasing
sales through third parties.
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 16

17. Optimism and business
size correlation
Top savings areas that will Small Medium Large
not undermine growth business business business
More use of pay-as-you-go
40% 34% 34%
business services
Reducing fixed workspace 38% 34% 45%
More sales through third parties 38% 43% 32%
Shorter supply chain 37% 43% 51%
More cloud IT applications 37% 40% 44%
Small and large businesses also differ in their identification of the main causes
of distress during the downturn with large businesses indicating that flexible
margins due to resellers, distributors or introducers had weighed heavily on their
firms, less so for small companies which instead found that access to capital was
very difficult. Difficulties accessing capital is rated as the third greatest cause for
duress by large businesses that rate making permanent staff redundant as second
greatest cause for distress in the slowdown. Small businesses on the other hand
report that paying for unnecessary office space was the second greatest difficulty
felt during the downturn.
Main reasons for distress during Small Medium Large
world economic slowdown business business business
Inflexible margins paid to distributors/
43% 43% 47%
resellers/introducers
Access to cost effective capital 49% 40% 44%
Paying for unnecessary office space 47% 39% 43%
Making permanent staff redundant 41% 48% 47%
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 17

18. Optimism and business
size correlation
Small and large businesses largely agree on the initiatives most likely to contribute
to stability for future growth differing significantly only on the increased use of part-
time and freelance staff which small firms rate highly and large firms do not. Small
firms likely make greater use of part time and freelance staff to respond to varying
growth and retrenchment requirements which in larger firms, already made leaner
by staff cuts during the downturn, are not necessary.
Initiatives most likely to contribute to stable Small Medium Large
and sustainable growth business business business
Wider distribution of customers 45% 48% 46%
More flexible working conditions for staff 34% 42% 43%
Flexible workspace 33% 32% 33%
More remote working 32% 32% 33%
Reducing non-core activity/functions
23% 30% 36%
performed in-house
A higher proportion of part-time
32% 21% 18%
and freelance staff
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 18

19. Country & geographic highlights
• Surprisingly business confidence has increased more in counties that were initially
hit hardest by the downturn such as the USA (+15) and the UK (+4) indicating that
the business community feels optimistic about reform measures taken.
• Confidence continues to grow, although more conservatively in economies
that represent major global growth engines such as China (+2), Brazil (+2) and
Mexico (+7).
• Germany reports a 7 point contraction in its business confidence index value,
perhaps due to uncertainty in the Euro area or a slight slowdown in China,
although at 132 points it remains the third most confident nation.
• Brazil (148) and India (143) top the business confidence chart confirming their
role as key drivers of the global economy. At the other extreme we find Japan
which at 82 points appears to still be suffering from the March 2011 disasters.
• The majority of companies regard shortening the supply chain as vital to reduce
costs and this is particularly true in France (49%) and China (47%) where almost
half of companies agree.
• A wider distribution of customers is seen as a key measure to help achieve
growth by Germany (64%) and China (73%) both countries having pursued this
measure successfully in the past. By contrast only 25% of companies in the
Netherlands agree highlighting perhaps an intention to retrench into specialist
and local markets.
• Lack of access to cost effective capital was identified as the main reason for
corporate distress during the slowdown by fully 58% of firms in the USA and
India and 56% in China highlighting that if these major economies are to be
expected to continue generating growth access to capital must be improved.
• Paying for unnecessary office space during the downturn was regarded as
particularly detrimental in many growing economies such as India (61%) and
Brazil (50%) as well as developed economies like Canada (51%).
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 19

20. Country & geographic highlights
On a country per country level a number of interesting variations occur. These are
tabulated below for ease of viewing with particularly significant values highlighted in red.
Revenue Profits Shorter Reduction of fixed Increase in IT
Country rise rise supply chain office space cloud applications
UK 43% 36% 45% 41% 37%
USA 48% 40% 35% 42% 44%
France 49% 34% 49% 41% 36%
Germany 62% 51% 44% 32% 37%
China 67% 56% 47% 25% 33%
India 69% 58% 39% 40% 36%
Belgium 53% 38% 43% 44% 43%
Netherlands 39% 28% 41% 49% 43%
Brazil 71% 57% 33% 40% 44%
South Africa 43% 39% 40% 45% 35%
Japan 18% 13% 26% 29% 43%
Australia 46% 40% 39% 37% 43%
Canada 51% 40% 41% 40% 31%
Mexico 50% 37% 43% 39% 38%
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 20

21. Conclusion
After plummeting significantly between March and
September 2011 on the back of stock market and
Eurozone crises, business confidence seems to have
arrested its fall and to be stabilising once more.
It would appear that business believes that it has experienced the larger part
of economic slowdown and is now determined to proactively climb back to
growth. Although consumer confidence is still low in the UK where high levels of
unemployment have affected consumer outlook,21 it is rising in China, in Canada
and the USA where outlook continues to improve in spite of rising gasoline prices.22
These are hopeful signs for businesses that the market is stabilising and laying more
solid foundations for growth in the months to come. Perhaps the most positive
indicator is that, surprisingly, business confidence has increased more in countries
that were initially hit hardest by the downturn (such as the USA and the UK).
Businesses across the world want to grasp the growth possibilities of a recovering
global economy, while also continuing to contain, or even reduce, costs. To do so,
there is an evident interest in reaching a level of flexibility that best favours future
growth with a particular emphasis on creating shorter supply chains and introducing
more flexible ways of working. In particular, businesses report that inflexible property
arrangements were a hindrance to them during the downturn while increased
flexibility for staff and making less use of fixed office space will help provide the
stability necessary to pursue future growth. With solutions readily available on the
market for flexible workspace arrangements there is no doubt that the number of
businesses benefiting from more nimble and scalable arrangements will increase in
the coming years.
The Telegraph, Consumer confidence dented by job fears, 23rd February 2012
21
USA Today, Consumer confidence rises despite higher gas prices, 28th February 2012; China Daily, Chinese confidence rebounds, 12th March 2012
22
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 21

22. About Regus
Regus is the world’s largest provider of flexible
workplaces, with products and services ranging from
fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms,
business lounges and the world’s largest network of
video communication studios. Regus enables people
to work their way, whether it’s from home, on the road
or from an office.
Customers such as Google, GlaxoSmithKline, and Nokia join hundreds of thousands
of growing small and medium businesses that benefit from outsourcing their office
and workplace needs to Regus, allowing them to focus on their core activities.
Over 1,000,000 customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a global
footprint of 1,200 locations in 550 cities and 95 countries, which allow individuals
and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they want to. Regus was
founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1989, is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on
the London Stock Exchange. For more information please visit: www.regus.com
Methodology
Over 16,000 business respondents from the Regus global contacts database were
interviewed during January 2012. The Regus global contacts database of over 1
million business-people worldwide is highly representative of senior managers and
owners in business across the globe. Respondents were asked about their recent
revenue and profit trends, along with their future views on a number of issues including
the measures they regarded as most effective for companies to reduce costs without
damaging growth. The survey was managed and administered by the independent
organisation, MindMetre, www.mindmetre.com
Regus Business Confidence Index | Walking the Tightrope | Issue 6 | April 2012 | Page 22

23. Whilst every effort has been taken to verify the accuracy
of this information, Regus cannot accept any responsibility
or liability for reliance by any person on this report or any of the
information, opinions or conclusions set out in this report.