LSE report: SMEs vital for recovery The London Stock Exchange Group’s 1,000 companies to Inspire Britain report says SMEs will be crucial in rebuilding the economy, post-coronavirus. The annual report, which examines the economic environment facing smaller businesses, shows that between them the 1,000 firms listed recorded an annual average revenue growth rate of 41.2%. The report also notes that the firms generated more than 42,000 jobs in the two years to December 2019. London Stock Exchange Group CEO David Schwimmer says the report “highlights the vital role of SMEs in driving economic growth, leading innovation and providing jobs across the UK.”