The UK's biggest companies are highly pessimistic about the economy in 2017
The bi-annual 'Boardroom Bellwether' Report, published in conjunction with the Financial Times, found that three-quarters of FTSE 350 company secretaries expected economic conditions to deteriorate in the next 12 months. 8% expected a "slight" improvement, and none expected a major improvement.
Companies were also pessimistic about the short-term prospects for the global economy. A third expected a decline in global economic conditions over the next year, 16% expected conditions to improve slightly, and none expected a "significant" improvement.
The gloom is not entirely related to Brexit, however. While 54% of companies surveyed said Brexit would have a damaging effect, only one company said that it intended to move a substantial part of its operations abroad as a consequence of Brexit. Fifty-four percent said Brexit was not among the "principal risks" they were worried about.
Companies were also significantly more positive about their own sectors. 21% expected an improvement in conditions for their industry while 36% expected no change.
The survey also registered a high level of opposition to Theresa May's pledge to make companies include workers on boards and remuneration committees, something she has already partially backed down from since becoming PM.
85% of respondents said they did not want workers on their board or remuneration committee, while just four companies said they agreed with the idea.
May has now said that she will ask companies to involve workers in an advisory capacity, rather than at boardroom level.
In total, 32 companies from the FTSE 100 responded to the survey, while 47 companies from the FTSE 250 responded.