Enterprise Nation, which helps individuals to start and grow small businesses, has released its latest annual small business report 2011 (A Window of Opportunity [PDF]) and revealed in a new BT supported survey of 1,224 smaller firms (conducted during March 2011) that 59% believe high speed broadband is essential for their business.

The report claims that accessing the internet and downloading rich media has also become a key requirement for business owners, especially when "sourcing information, working with partners and, critically, selling to customers". It also calls for a new batch of private and public partnerships to help increase the availability of superfast fibre optic broadband.

Smaller firms were also asked "what is most important for your business over the next 12 months?", which saw expansion into Social Media (Twitter, Facebook) topping the pack at 35% and Cloud Computing coming in second place with 27%.