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7.7. KEY FINDINGS: Business questionnaire

Is this a locally owned business or part of a larger group?

The largest proportion of businesses who responded are locally owned with one site – 76%. However, there were also 14% who were locally owned and had several sites. Only 1 respondent was part of a national or regional chain and 2 who were franchised businesses.

How many people do you employ (including yourself)?

Of the respondents who employ full time staff the largest proportion (34%) employ only one person with 14% employing 2 full time employees and 10% employing 3 full time employees. 10% of respondents also stated that they employed between 6 and 25 full time employees, 7% employing between 26 and 50 and 7% employing over 51.

Of the respondents who employ part time members of staff 30% employ 1 person, 25% employ 2 people, 25% employ between 6 and 25 people and 5% employ over 51 people.

Does your company use and have:

The most commonly occurring responses to this question were e-mail (20%), have own website (19%) and broadband (18%). The lowest occurring response was ISDN line with 3%.

Have you tried to recruit any staff in the last 2 years?

Of the respondents, 61% have tried to recruit new staff in the last 2 years and 39% have not.

If you have tried to recruit was it because:

The most commonly occurring reason for attempting to recruit new staff was that the business is growing (47%). Freeing up time to allow management of business and a need to replace staff that were being lost both received 16% of total responses. The need to meet demand for new customer contract did not receive any responses.

Did you experience any difficulties in recruiting suitable staff?

Whilst 55% of respondents to this question stated that they did not experience any difficulties in recruiting new staff 45% did.

If yes, what do you think were the reasons?

Amongst the reasons given for difficulties in recruiting new staff a lack of suitable applicants received the highest proportion of responses (37%) with the quality of applicants with specific skills received 26% and poor imagine of the sector or occupation received 16%. Competition from elsewhere and lack of affordable housing received the lowest proportion of responses with 5% each.

If you have not recruited in the last 2 years is this because:

Of the reasons why businesses had not recruited the belief that the business had all the staff it needed received the highest proportion of responses with 30%. Other popular responses were that the business was not expanding that the business was not winning enough new customers/orders, each with 15%. The option that the respondent was looking to sell the business did not receive any responses.

Do you think that you will recruit for increased staff in the next 2 years?

75% of respondents felt that there would be a need for them to recruit new staff in the next 2 years with 25% indicating they did not feel there was a need.

Here are some statements that have been made relating to skills, business success and premises: 1.agree strongly, 2. Agree, 3.neither agree nor disagree, 4.disagree, 5.disagree strongly

Of the statements respondents were asked to consider those that were most strongly agreed with were:

I could benefit from a string well run local business support organisation (8)

I could benefit from a more active promotion of the town (8)

I could benefit from a more active promotion of the town (6)

The statements that received the highest number of agree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my industry or business section (16)

I could benefit from a more active promotion of the town (16)

If I needed different premises, I could find them in Crowborough (16)

My staff have all the skills and knowledge they need for this business to succeed (14)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (14)

The statements that received the highest number of neither agree of disagree selections were:

I find it easy to find the right training courses to provide myself and my staff with the right skills for my business (12)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (12)

I know where to go if I or my staff need external training for new skills (11)

The statements that received the highest number of disagree selections were:

If my staff need additional training, I can provide it in-house (11)

If I want to grow the business, they (premises) would still be adequate (10)

I find it easy to find the right training courses to provide myself and my staff with the right skills for my business (9)

The statements that received the highest number of strongly disagree selections were:

If I needed different premises, I could find them in Crowborough (2)

I have all the skills and knowledge I need to run this business successfully (1)

I find it easy to find the right training courses to provide myself and my staff with the right skills for my business (1)

If I want to grow the business, they (premises) would still be adequate (1)

Premises

The statements that received the highest number of strongly agree selections were:

I could benefit from more active promotion of the town (17)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (11)

I am confident of the future for my business (11)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (11)

The statements that received the highest number of agree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my business (22)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (22)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (19)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (19)

The statements that received the highest number of neither agree of disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (20)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (10)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (8)

The statements that received the highest number of disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (6)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (4)

The statements that received the highest number of strongly disagree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my business (4)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (4)

Which of the following skills areas within your business do you foresee as being in short supply?

The two most commonly selected areas of skills shortage were seen as IT skills and sales/marketing skills, each with 16% of totals responses, and technical with 10%. Basic skills did not receive any responses.

Are you a member of a trade network or organisation?

Whilst 53% of respondents to this question are not a member of a trade network or organisation, 47% are.

The Crowborough Partnership has an active Business Group that supports all business sectors. Would you be interested in receiving information by email?

89% of respondents to this question would like to receive information by e-mail about a Crowborough business group and 11% would not.

Do you think that Crowborough would benefit from a Town Manager to assist businesses and residents to manage change?

The overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) consider that Crowborough would benefit from a Town manager and 14% consider that it would not.

In partnership with other businesses, would you be prepared to contribute financially to that role?

39% of respondents indicated that they would be prepared to contribute financially to that role and 61% indicated that they would not.

Retail sector questionnaire

Is this a locally owned business or part of a larger group?

Of the respondents to this question 59% were locally owned – only site, 22% were part of a national or regional chain and 15 % were locally owned – several sites.

How many people do you employ (including yourself)?

From the respondents who indicated that they employed full time staff 25% employ 2 members of staff, 19% employ 3 members of staff and 16% employ 1 member of staff. Only 3% of respondents (1) indicated that the employ between 26 and 50 full time members of staff.

From the respondents who indicated that they employ part time members of staff 34% employ 2 members of part time staff and the figures for employing 1, 3 or 4 members of part time staff are the same – 16%. Only 6% (2) of respondents employ between 26 and 50 part time members of staff.

Does your company use and have:

The most commonly selected options were e-mail (28), have own website (24) and internet/DSL (16), which constitute percentage values of total responses of 25%, 22% and 14% respectively. The lowest recorded option was ISDN line with 5 responses representing a percentage value of total responses of 5%.

In the last two years has your business turnover:

The responses to this question indicate that business turnover has increased for 65% of respondents, remained static for 23% and decreased for 12%.

Have you tried to recruit someone in the past two years?

69% of respondents have tried to recruit someone in the past two years and 31% have not.

If you have tried to recruit was it because:

The most commonly occurring reason for trying to recruit is to replace staff who have resigned, representing 52% of total responses to this question, followed by the business is growing – 26%. The reason with the fewest responses was that the business was diversifying into new areas – 1 response.

Did you experience any difficulty in recruiting staff?

Whilst 55% of respondents have not experienced difficulties in recruiting new staff, 45% have.

If yes, what do you think were the reasons?

The most commonly selected reason for difficulties in recruitment was a lack of suitable applicants with 56% of total responses, followed by a lack of applicants with specific skills with 25%. Competition from elsewhere was considered to be the least significant reason with 4% of total responses.

If you have not recruited in the last 2 years, is this because:

The most commonly occurring reason why retailers have not recruited in the last 2 years is that they have all the staff they need (50% of total responses) followed by they have no place to grow – 25%.

Do you think that you will recruit for increased staff in the next 2 years?

The split between employers who consider they will recruit in the next 2 years and employers who consider they will not is even at 50% each.

Here are some statements that have been made relating to skills, business success and premises: 1.agree strongly, 2. Agree, 3.neither agree nor disagree, 4.disagree, 5.disagree strongly

The statements that received the highest number of strongly agree selections were:

I have all the skills and knowledge I need to run this business successfully (22)

My staff have all the skills & knowledge they need for this business to succeed (17)

The statements that received the highest number of agree selections were:

If my staff need additional training, I can provide it in-house (25)

My staff have all the skills & knowledge they need for this business to succeed (19)

If I or my staff need external training for new skills, I know where to go (19)

The statements that received the highest number of neither agree or disagree selections were:

I find it difficult to find the right staff with the right skills for my business (12)

I find it easy to find the right training courses to provide myself and my staff with the right skills for my business (12)

If I or my staff need external training for new skills, I know where to go (7)

The statements that received the highest number of disagree selections were:

I find it difficult to find the right staff with the right skills for my business (12)

I have all the skills and knowledge I need to run this business successfully (4)

My staff have all the skills & knowledge they need for this business to succeed (4)

If I or my staff need external training for new skills, I know where to go (4)

The statements that received the highest number of strongly disagree selections were:

I find it difficult to find the right staff with the right skills for my business (4)

I find it easy to find the right training courses to provide myself and my staff with the right skills for my business (4)

If I or my staff need external training for new skills, I know where to go (3)

Business success

The statements that received the highest number of strongly agree selections were:

I could benefit from more active promotion of the town (17)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (11)

I am confident of the future for my business (11)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (11)

The statements that received the highest number of agree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my business (22)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (22)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (19)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (19)

The statements that received the highest number of neither agree or disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (20)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (10)

The statements that received the highest number of disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (6)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (4)

The statements that received the highest number of strongly disagree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my business (4)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (4)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (3)

I could benefit from more active promotion of the town (3)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (3)

Premises

The statements that received the highest number of strongly agree selections were:

I could benefit from more active promotion of the town (17)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (11)

I am confident of the future for my business (11)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (11)

The statements that received the highest number of agree selections were:

Crowborough is a good location for my business (22)

I am confident of the future for my business (22)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (19)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (19)

The statements that received the highest number of neither agree or disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (20)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (10)

The statements that received the highest number of disagree selections were:

I could benefit from a strong well run local business organisation (6)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (4)

The statements that received the highest number of strongly disagree selections were:

I am confident of the future for my business (4)

Crowborough is a good location for my business (4)

If I need external advice to improve my business, I know where to go (3)

I could benefit from more active promotion of the town (3)

I am confident of the future for my industry or business sector (3)

Which of the following skills do you foresee as being in short supply?

Respondents considered that the skills that were in greatest short supply were customer services and communication skills, each with figures of 19% of the total responses. The area if least concern was administrative skills with only 1 response – 2% of total responses.

Are you a member of a trade network or organisation?

Whilst 53% of respondents indicated that they were a member of a trade network or organisation 47% indicated that they were not.

The Crowborough Partnership has an active business group that supports all business sectors. Would you be interested in a group dedicated to retailers?

56% of respondents indicated that they would be interested in a group dedicated to retailers and 44% indicated that they would not.

Do you think that Crowborough would benefit from a Town Manager?

70% of respondents stated that they thought Crowborough would benefit from a town centre manager and 25% stated that they did not think Crowborough would benefit from a Town Manager.

Would you be prepared to contribute to that role?

Of respondents, 90% stated that they would not be prepared to contribute financially to the Town Manger role with 8% indicating that they would. The remaining responses (1) were unsure.

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