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Thurrock Council Online Business Survey
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The Thurrock Council Business Survey has been designed to identify the economic challenges and opportunities facing businesses in the Thurrock region, and help inform and shape the economic strategy and development activities of Thurrock Council.
The survey is aimed at understanding where businesses feel additional support could be developed, and where there may be gaps in funding.
We really appreciate you taking the time to complete.
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1.
Question 1.
Company Name
Required
- Required.
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2.
Question 2.
Contact Name
Required
- Required.
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3.
Question 3.
Position/Job Title
Required
- Required.
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4.
Question 4.
How many employees does the business have in Thurrock? This is PAYE employees (does not include volunteers or contractors).
Required
- Required.
1-9
10-49
50-249
250+
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5.
Question 5.
Now, or over the next 12 months, do you expect that your business would find it useful to have any business support or assistance in any of the following areas?
Please tick all that apply or select 'none of the above' if no options are selected.
Required
- Required.
To support with your Supply chain (e.g. support to expand your supply chain through establishing new business and supplier connections, or support with managing supply chain challenges).
To help with Carbon reduction or Resource efficiency (e.g. grants and support to help reduce energy costs or introduce new green technology, or even support to help you reduce your carbon footprint).
Grant assistance for any new product or service development in your business, or with innovating your business or offering (e.g. grants that can be put towards research & development, or in developing new products or services).
To support your sales & marketing initiatives (e.g. support with promoting your business and helping to grow sales, such as through social media training to grow your presence online, support with SEO and increasing traffic to your website, or support with direct marketing tools to support your business growth).
Finance support (e.g. support on financial planning and helping to navigate the latest funding channels and in identifying any potential sources of funding and business grants).
Assistance with Exporting/International Trade (e.g. advice and support for both experienced exporters and businesses looking to take their first steps into the export market. Whether you are looking to grow your existing markets, engage with emerging and high-growth markets, or interested in investing in overseas operations).
Digital & Technology Support (e.g. through helping to Increase digital productivity / help you to become more digitally innovative, or even for funding towards things like new IT / Accounts systems or technology to make your business processes or outputs more productive).
None of the above
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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6.
Question 6.
What do you perceive the barriers to be in accessing business support in Thurrock?
Please tick all that apply. Use 'other' box to detail any other barriers not already listed. Select 'no barriers/not aware of any' only if all other boxes are unticked.
Required
- Required.
Lack of time (not having the time to explore different forms of business support).
Lack of information (not having enough information about the business support in the region, or being aware of what is relevant to the business).
Cost (this would include concerns about the cost of obtaining expert advice, whether it provides good value for money, and concerns about the time that would be needed to fully benefit from the service).
No barriers / Not aware of any
Other (please specify):
This is required
Input box for - Other (please specify):
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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7.
Question 7.
For each of the following business support options can you select those which you would potentially use as a business. This is not to ask whether you currently need support in this form right now, but is more for us to understand the nature of the support and methods that businesses would prefer when accessing business support.
Please tick all that apply or select 'none of the above' if no options are selected.
Required
- Required.
One-to-one support in a face to face setting
One to one support in a virtual setting e.g. through Teams/Zoom
One to one support through a telephone call
Peer networking – i.e. working alongside other businesses in group sessions (this could be either virtual or face to face)
A group event, workshop or webinar format (this could be either virtual or face to face)
None of the above
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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8.
Question 8.
Have you ever engaged with any of the following to support your business?
Please tick all that apply. Use 'other' box to detail any other organisation you have engaged to support your business, which are not already listed. Select 'none of the above' if all other boxes are unticked.
Required
- Required.
Thurrock Council (aside from paying things like business rates)
BEST Growth Hub (which is the Business Essex Southend & Thurrock (BEST) Growth Hub)
University of Essex
South Essex College
Chambers of Commerce
Thurrock Business Board
NWES (Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Services)
Trade Associations (if yes, specify which)
JobCentre Plus
None of the above
Other (please specify):
This is required
Input box for - Other (please specify):
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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9.
Question 9.
Has the number of employees in your business increased, decreased or stayed the same over the last 12 months?
Required
- Required.
Substantially increased (+10% or more)
Increased a little (increased, but less than 10%)
Stayed the same
Decreased a little (decreased, but less than 10%)
Substantially decreased (- 10% or more)
Don’t know
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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10.
Question 10.
For your business, are there any job roles or specific skills that you have had difficulty recruiting for, or envisage having difficulty recruiting for? For example, any skills gaps that you are having difficulty filling?
Required
- Required.
11.
Question 11.
Over the next 12 months do you expect to do any of the following? And have you also done them over the previous 12 months?
Please tick all boxes that apply.
Expect to do in the Next 12 Months
Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Neither Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months or Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Unsure if Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months
Recruit Apprentices
Expect to do in the Next 12 Months
Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Neither Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months or Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Unsure if Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months
Introduce new products / services (i.e. any new products or services that are not currently being offered).
Expect to do in the Next 12 Months
Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Neither Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months or Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Unsure if Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months
Find new premises
Expect to do in the Next 12 Months
Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Neither Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months or Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Unsure if Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months
Increase turnover
Expect to do in the Next 12 Months
Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Neither Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months or Have Done in the Previous 12 Months
Unsure if Expect Doing in the Next 12 Months
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12.
Question 12.
Over the next 12 months do you anticipate doing any of the following?
Required
- Required.
Yes
No
Unsure
Recruit new employees
Yes
No
Unsure
Upskill your workforce (i.e. any staff development, workforce development or training initiatives planned)
Yes
No
Unsure
Adopt new technology (i.e. in the form of new IT systems like CRM / project management systems, new technology to improve or speed up your existing processes, new sales & marketing tools e.g. digital marketing tools, or any other systems to technology that is going to help improve or support the business).
Yes
No
Unsure
Making your business more green or sustainable (i.e. through becoming more sustainable, reducing your carbon footprint, introducing new methods or systems to make your business more green, or even making your product or service offering more green).
Yes
No
Unsure
Purchasing new capital equipment.
Yes
No
Unsure
If required, please note any additional comments here:
This is required
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