Barclays says the amount of money pouring into the accounts it holds for small businesses customers has reached its highest level since pre-recession 2007.

Analysis by Barclays Business Banking shows total quarterly income for its current accounts hit a peak not seen since June 2007, while the annual growth rate was its strongest since 2000.

In the final quarter of 2013, small business income levels were 3.4 per cent above their-pre-recession peak, it said.

Sue Hayes, managing director for Barclays Business Banking said: “The strength of income growth among our customers in 2013 shows just how significant last year was in marking a sustained recovery in the wider small business population.

“Along with recent GDP data this indicates the UK economy is starting to put its more difficult years behind it, painting a promising picture for 2014 with confidence returning to the small business market.”

By industry, the biggest income gains were in education, with a 41 per cent increase, health, which swelled 28 per cent, and professional services, up 23 per cent.