Majority of Scots firms think banks will support ambitions

And banks are "surprisingly" supportive of these ambitions, with a small majority of firms saying they believe lenders had responded to government pressure to lend more money.

Independent corporate finance adviser Quayle Munro commissioned a survey of 100 private and listed businesses in Scotland with a turnover exceeding 1 million, to ask their views on raising capital.

The findings mark a turnaround since the banking crisis, when most firms have been focused on reducing debt and delaying investment decisions due to the general economic climate, lack of supply of finance and increased pricing.

Rob Cormie, managing director of Quayle Munro in Scotland, said: "Not only are people looking to invest and raise more money, they can do it with their existing banks or another bank. It is a tricky issue, but good companies can still raise money.

"There is far too much doom and despondency - people have been talking themselves into recession. But this demonstrates that three-quarters of people are planning on doing something."

Although 56 per cent of those surveyed said they saw at least some evidence of an increased willingness to lend among traditional banks, Cormie said many businesses have been dissatisfied with how they have been looked after by their bank in recent times.

The survey revealed 65 per cent of companies felt confident that they could secure debt from a bank where they did not already have a relationship, potentially signalling opportunities both for banks wishing to grow market share and new entrants to the UK banking sector.

Cormie added that this also offered an opportunity to "alternative" lenders.

"There is definitely a market trend away from traditional corporate debt, such as private placement markets. There are alternative sources out there, people who lend money can see an opportunity to make money. They are filling a gap.

"What has happened with the bigger banks is they have an inability to do anything. They are so worried about what the government thinks, they have forgotten to ask what the customers think."

He added: "We have seen RBS lose customers they have had a hundred years."