Business owners are being invited to give their views to help shape the council’s business support strategies and inform its plans and policies.
The Invest in South Lakeland economic development team at South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has launched its annual South Lakeland Business Premises Survey for 2019 and is urging members of the business community to take part.
The survey, which can be completed online, will provide an up-to-date local assessment of business needs over the next 12 months.
Previous surveys have given the council a good insight into future land and premises needs, and provided the team with information on which businesses may need additional support to help achieve growth.
The surveys, which are posted out to more than 4,600 South Lakeland businesses on the council’s business rates database, also reveal useful information about firms which are expanding, downsizing or making premises available.
Last year’s survey found that nearly three quarters of respondents were confident about the next 12 months, 17 per cent of respondents expected their staffing levels to increase and 30 per cent wanted to move to a larger site and 41.3 per cent want to expand their existing site.
Where issues or concerns were raised, Invest in South Lakeland offered advice and support where appropriate or signposted respondents to the relevant body.
Matt Williams, SLDC’s economic development team manager, said: “Gathering the views of members of the South Lakeland business community is vitally important to us so we have a clear, first hand and informed picture of the issues and an indication of future plans, which enables us to offer support and informs our strategies and policies planning for the future.”
The survey runs until the deadline of 15 January.
Anyone who is running a small business from home, and not currently paying business rates, is also welcome to take part.
Business owners can complete the short survey online at www.investinsouthlakeland.co.uk/survey or www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-premises-search or return the survey by post or email.
