Local Firms Voice How Government’s Industrial Strategy will Impact Business

Earlier this month (February) the Business Secretary announced industrial strategy investment in science, research and innovation but how do Sheffield City Region businesses think it will impact on them?

This is a question in the Sheffield City Region Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) which is now open for Sheffield City Region businesses to answer. The survey results for the first quarter of 2017 will give a snapshot of how the regional economy performed over the last three months and a forecast for the next quarter.

Business people are urged to complete the short online survey to provide up to date hard data on the current business economy, skills and labour market, international trade and other issues affecting business such as the Industrial Strategy. The results are used to inform the Sheffield City Region Chambers of Commerce and the Local Enterprise Partnership and help set the mandate of their work to influence policy makers at a regional and national level and help shape government support for business.

“This quarter’s survey will help the Chambers to identify what businesses think to the Government’s proposed Industrial Strategy and how it can be shaped to add most value for the Sheffield City Region’s businesses” says Dan Fell, CEO, Doncaster Chamber.

“The survey is quick to complete and is the opportunity for business people to report on all aspects of their business from turnover to recruitment whilst providing a vehicle for businesses to get their voice heard on key issues like the Industrial Strategy.

“It’s important that we know what businesses’ challenges, issues and opportunities are, in order to help us to deliver the support they need to grow. The Chambers work with the Local Enterprise Partnership, British Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholders to ensure that Government and decision-makers are listening and put the right support structures in place.”

As an extra incentive, all business people completing the survey will be entered into a free prize draw to win two free Flybe flights to Paris, courtesy of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The QES Q1 results will be released at a free QES Breakfast event on 5 May 2017 for all business people to hear and participate in a lively debate between high profile business and economy experts about the industrial strategy and its impact on the local economy.

The Q1 Quarterly Economic Survey, sponsored by The Source, is run by the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership and four Chambers of Commerce, and is open to all Sheffield City Region businesses until 13 March 2017. The results are a part of the national QES run by the British Chambers of Commerce and is the country’s biggest and longest- running private sector survey. It acts as an economic indicator and often highlights underlying trends in the economy long before other surveys or other official statistics pick them up.

To influence policy and decision-making, and win free flights to Paris, take the survey at screconomy.org.uk/survey

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