Business Survey Results
Introduction
In March of 2009 the Development & Regeneration Service of Bath & North East Somerset Council, working in partnership with GWE Business West, circulated a Business Support Survey to over 8000 businesses in the area. The aim of the Business Support Survey was to help us understand current business needs during the recession and assist us in shaping future support services for businesses in the Bath & North East Somerset area.
The report summarises the results of the survey and details the actions that the Council is taking to address the issues raised by businesses during the recession.
To view the full report click on the download at the bottom of the page. Below is a summary fo the report.
Summary of analysis - Headlines
Overall it is predominantly small businesses who are requesting support primarily in Website marketing, Health & safety and in doing business with the council. The majority of these businesses are from the construction/building sector, education health & social work and the financial & business services sector.
- From those businesses that selected a description the construction/building sector had the highest response (12%). Joint second highest with 11% were education, health & social work and financial & business services. The creative services and or media sector was also represented with 10% of the responses.
- The Council has undertaken work to confirm which sectors are likely to underpin the future sustainable economic growth of the region. This has allowed us to explore the opportunities and threats likely to be faced in the future and to review the scope for policy interventions aimed at enhancing competititiveness and growth of the key sectors. Key sectors identified are construction, creative industries, low carbon economy & environmental technologies, new technology & innovation, printing & packaging, public administration & defence, retail & tourism.
- The majority of respondents have a business with between 1-5 full-time employees.
- 75 business respondents that requested business support have been passed to GWE Business West and are currently receiving advice.
- 51% of businesses that responded are currently based in Bath with 15% based in rural Bath & North East Somerset.
- These results will be used to inform our future advice and support work with partner agencies
- Additionally our business partner GWE Business West maintain offices in both Bath and Midsomer Norton.
- The most requested themes for a seminar are website marketing (12%), employment law (11%) and health and safety (9%).
- Bath & North East Somerset Council has contributed towards the Supplying the Public Sector Event which was held on the 23rd September 2009 at The Conference Hall, Council House, College Green, Bristol, extending an invitation to attend to over 340 local businesses.
- The Council is also working with GWE Business West on a Meet the Buyer Event to be held in conjunction with the Bath Business Show planned for the first quarter of 2010.
- The Council is also working with GWE Business West on a website marketing seminar planned for the first quarter of 2010
- The most requested themes for training courses/workshops are health & safety (14%), sales and marketing (13%) and management supervision (12%)
- These results will be used to inform our future advice and support work with partner agencies
- The most requested form of one-to-one confidential help or advice is doing business with the Council (33%), followed by reducing running costs/sustainability (18%) and claiming small business rate relief (14%)
- 22 businesses have been passed to the Council’s Corporate Procurement Unit for advice on selling to the council and will be contacted in January 2010
- 12 businesses have been passed to the Revenues & Benefits team for advice on how they can claim small business rates relief and were contacted over September 2009.
- 30% of those who responded to the survey were interested in a free business advisor session, 16% were interested in a free meeting with a training specialist and 16% were interested in ongoing support from an experienced business mentor.
- 75 business respondents that requested business support have been passed to GWE Business West and are currently receiving advice.
- 57 businesses requested to receive regular information on business support and training available locally.
- The Council’s business website www.business-matters.biz has information on training courses throughout Bath & North East Somerset for both employers and employees and information on the business support provided locally. Additionally a business-news email newsletter is planned for April 2010 which will feature business support and training news as well as articles of interest to businesses in Bath & North East Somerset.
Downloads
- Business Survey Results Report 2009 (111k)
Results of the Business Survey Report 2009