Banks are starting to increase lending to small firms, according to research from Hitachi Capital. The firm's latest British Business Barometer survey found that only a third of SMEs were critical about the financial services industry and its willingness to provide credit, compared to 44% last year. It also found that SMEs feel a stronger sense of partnership between them and the banks, with 42% stating that lenders were supportive - an increase of 6% on last year.