Four in ten business owners believe politicians do not care about them.

Professionals who have set up a recruitment agency could benefit from calls for the political establishment to pay more attention to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the drivers of the British economy.

Research from uSwitchforbusiness.com has revealed that the nation's SMEs are feeling abandoned and disenfranchised as the general election nears, with four in ten business owners believing politicians do not care about them.

Nearly one-third of those polled would like to see laws, regulation, taxes and red tape cut to encourage economic recovery as they believe these factors are making British businesses less competitive.

"Small businesses are vital to the wealth and wellbeing of the nation," commented the website's small business expert Jake Ridge, who added they are the backbone of the UK.

"For this alone they deserve to be heard, which is why it's so worrying that so few believe the main political parties have small business interests at heart."

The Institute of Directors recently stated that UK businesses spend £80 billion a year dealing with paperwork.