MORE than half of Worcestershire businesses expect 2017 to be a tougher year for trade, a major 'post Brexit' survey has revealed.

Worcestershire County Council has released the results of its big poll aimed at securing detailed feedback from employers after last June's historic vote.

The findings - the largest survey across the county since the nation backed Brexit - show how just 40 per cent expect turnover to improve this year.

Some 34 per cent said they expected profit levels to get better, from a total of 1,250 firms contacted.

The questions also revealed how 31 per cent cited 'increased costs' as a risk of Brexit, while 24 per cent were worried about exchange rate volatility and 21 per cent mentioned political uncertainty.

But 31 per cent of companies said it was too early to predict how Brexit would impact on Worcestershire, and 41 per cent stated that they expected the result to have no negative spin-off on their trading on 2017.

Some 75 per cent of businesses said their workforce will remain the same this year and 17 per cent expected to employ more people.

The Conservative leadership at County Hall says the mixed results show the importance of keeping Worcestershire's economy among the fastest growing in Britain.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said: "We have one of the fastest growing local economies in the country and being 'open for business' is one of our key priorities.

"A successful and growing local economy will generate wealth for residents and businesses, and this growth will increase council income, enabling us to invest more in those areas residents and businesses tell us are most important.

"It's vitally important we continue to listen to the views of businesses so we know what support is needed to achieve our ambition."

Worcester News:

Gary Woodman, from the county's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: "The findings show that companies remain optimistic in growing, with two fifths of businesses expecting an increase in turnover against a backdrop of uncertainty of Brexit.

"Many respondents consider it too early to understand the full impact of Brexit.

“A majority of businesses recognise the importance of improving the connectivity of the county and availability of skilled employees."

Since 2014 only London and Oxfordshire have outperformed Worcestershire for their rates of economic growth nationwide.

The surveys were completed between mid-October and the end of November, with the council deliberately waiting until several months after the June vote to ask for opinions.