Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Business Survey Results published  

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has published the results of its Business Survey.  

As part of its current Corporate Strategy, one of the District Council's key objectives is to support a 'flourishing local economy'. To help shape and support this, the District Council conducts a biennial Business Survey so that it can better understand the state of business in the district and the needs of the business community.  

This survey was used to obtain the views of business to influence, shape and inform the development and delivery of current and future plans and strategies, especially the Draft Local Industrial and Economic Development Strategy for Stratford-on-Avon District and the way the District Council administers National Non Domestic (Business) Rates.  

63% of those surveyed rated the district as a place to do business as very good or good and 76% of those surveyed thought the district was very or quite business-friendly. 39% of businesses stated that the nature of the site/premises was the main reason for their location, with 76% saying that they would stay at their current location and 89% felt their premises were suitable for their current needs.  

Other findings include:      

• Exactly three-quarters of those surveyed felt their floor space may see no significant change in the next 10 years.
• Four in ten businesses stated that the main problem that affects the operation of their business was rising costs (43%), up 3 percentage points from the previous survey. 
• Reduce business rates and other charges remained the most popular option when asked how the area can be improved to assist businesses and the economy, although the percentage opting for it fell by 20 percentage points from 68% in 2016 to 48% now. (NB Business Rates are set by Central Government but are collected by the District Council.) Improving the road network remained around the same level of 2016 at 42% and 41% wished for improved broadband connections, 2 points less than 2016.
• 18% of businesses answered they had been a victim of crime at their business in the last twelve months.    

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "There are some excellent results in this survey.  As a district our economic performance over the past decade has been excellent; on almost every metric we are above the national and regional benchmarks.  We believe that the potential for economic growth in the district is tremendous. I am amazed by the potential we have and we need to do everything we can to ensure the potential is translated into reality.  

"These results will help shape our Local Industrial and Economic Development Strategy.  The significance of having a robust Strategy cannot be overstated. It signals intent to all the businesses and organisations in the district.  I strongly believe that if we have a strong and dynamic local economy it creates opportunities for all and that living in a prosperous and thriving district benefits the vast majority of people.

"One of the things that has become very clear to me over the past 5 months is the importance of meeting businesses and networking with CWLEP and WMCA."     

• Questionnaires were mailed out to 3,627 businesses on the Non-Domestic Business Rates database in June, with a reminder in July.
• 868 questionnaires were completed, making a response rate of 24.6%.