More than 80% of the 200-plus business leaders who took part in an established quarterly survey expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months.
The vote of confidence emerged in the latest Enterprise Index by Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and investment management group.
Business confidence rose 15 points to a record 119.4 in the second quarter of this year, according to the closely-followed bellwether report.
Jamie Lane, associate director at the firm’s South Coast office in Southampton, said: “The result of the General Election, delivering a majority government, left businesses with the stability they craved.”
Jamie, from assurance and business services, said: “More than 80% of the 200-plus business leaders who took part in the established quarterly survey expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months.
“Following the Conservative victory, 87% are optimistic about their own prospects over the coming year, with 83% planning growth or an acquisition over that time frame.”
Starting from a benchmark 100 in January 2013, the Index is up strongly from 104.4 in the first quarter.
However, some concerns were expressed by respondents as the first majority Conservative government for 18 years brought with it the promise of a referendum on the UK’s membership with the EU.
Jamie said: “More than 68% of those surveyed believe that the so-called ‘Brexit’ would negatively impact British businesses.”
“As 66% of participants are expecting the financial health of their trading partners to improve and with the EU forming the largest destination for the export of UK goods, a potential Brexit will become an even more pressing issue as we approach the referendum.
“Furthermore, 84% of businesses believe that growing exports will be a key barometer of economic success for the new government. It will be interesting to see how policy makers handle this issue, whatever the result.
“Also, 9% of businesses felt migrants were absolutely essential to their business, and 62% of participants believed they played some part, so it would be reasonable to expect small-to-medium sized enterprises to be adversely affected should the UK elect to leave the EU.”
