The UK's economic glass is now half-full, says Grant Thornton In addition, this belt-tightening means businesses are spending less while still making a profit. At the moment, it often goes straight into the bank account, meaning that many businesses have money on their balance sheets, but don't want to spend it until economic confidence has returned. When there is an upturn in confidence, businesses will start to invest, and will want to use the cash sitting in their accounts. More jobs are being created in the private sector, and to some extent it is the private sector that is taking up the slack from the public sector. What's surprising about this is that the government hasn't made a bigger play of this fact, as this is what it said would happen when the Comprehensive Spending Review was announced. However, anything else that the government can do to create jobs, such as encouraging apprenticeship schemes, will surely help. While pessimism about the UK's economy seems to be in vogue, it doesn't mean that attitude is good for the economy, or even a realistic appraisal of the situation. It can't be denied that we have been through some tough years, but firms are emerging lean and hungry, and are just waiting for an economic upturn before pouncing and seizing the opportunities that are out there. However, economic confidence needs to come from somewhere, and the Government must show how well we're doing, and ensure that the support businesses need is there. Scott Barnes is chief executive of Grant Thornton.