Performance levels in the business service sector has revealed a significant rise during Q3 2011, however confidence for the future among business owners is still a concern, according to new tracking data.

The Business Factors Index, which tracks turnover levels among 3,200 of Bibby Financial Services’ UK client-base alongside the outlook of 450 business owners across the UK, reported an increased reading from 79.8 in Q2 to 86.1 in Q3.

But despite this increase, fewer than a quarter (23%) of firms said they remain ‘hopeful for the future’.

Amid concerns that the current Eurozone crisis could push Britain back towards the brink of a second financial crisis, the number of business services firms indicating they are ‘only just surviving’ rose by 10% to 40% between July and September.

Meanwhile, only a quarter (28%) reported an increase in new customers and 30% secured new sales leads in Q3; the corresponding figures for Q2 (between April and June) were 45% and 37%.