Business groups have been swift to react to the unexpected outright win for the Conservatives in the general election as three losing party leaders tender their resignations.
John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), congratulated David Cameron and said: “Businesses in all parts of the United Kingdom want to see a pro-growth, pro-enterprise programme – building on the positive steps taken, and lessons learned, during the Coalition years.
"The Conservatives now have a clear mandate to take bold and important decisions, and must use it to help British businesses invest and grow. In return, business stands ready to work with the new Government to deliver prosperity, jobs and sustained economic growth."
On Twitter, Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation, said: “Small business can continue to grow with confidence.”
John Allan, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: "What businesses will look for from the new Government is certainty and stability, both absolutely fundamental to business planning, and getting to grips with the big economic challenges."
He said: "That must start with continuing to secure the UK's long-term economic stability and addressing the deficit. Businesses will then look to the new Government to provide the conditions for enterprise to continue to flourish, and help ensure the economic recovery is felt in all parts of the country."
The FSB Business Manifesto has called for Government action on the big issues facing British businesses, including late payment, access to finance and a broken business rates system.
Allen added: "Small business will want to see a clear plan and timetable for action on these issues, which will allow them to properly plan for the future."
Like the FSB, business owners are already calling on the new Conservative Government to do more to support businesses. James Poyser, co-founder of inniAccounts, said: "It's been a long night with a surprising outcome – I don't think many people expected a majority to one party. The coalition has created a good environment for small businesses over the last five years, but there's more the next Government can do."