18th May 2012
Business Confidence on the Up
9th Aug 2011
Bedford’s businesses are feeling more and more confident about the future according to the findings of the 2011 Bedford Business Survey carried out in June. 44% of Bedford businesses thought their performance had improved in the last year, compared with 36% a year ago, and looking ahead to the next 12 months, 57% thought their performance would improve again.
o Related to this, 21% of Bedford businesses envisaged outgrowing or otherwise relocating from their current premises over the next two or three years compared with only 12% last year.
o Interestingly, and again perhaps related, Bedford’s businesses appear to be looking further afield for both customers and suppliers.
o More Bedford businesses are rating their business location as good (or very good) - 65% this year compared with 59% last.
o Most (84% of) Bedford businesses (mostly strongly) supported planning to make available a minimum of standard broadband to everyone and superfast for most.
o It was disappointing that many fewer businesses seem to be
o taking steps to reduce their CO2 emissions (only 26% this year compared with 49% last year).
o Encouragingly, for young people in particular, nearly a quarter (22%) of businesses would consider taking on an apprentice.
Finally, while an improvement in Council engagement with businesses was recorded, and Bedford’s position on this being better than elsewhere, businesses wanted further improvement.
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(62% of businesses signed up through the survey)
To see the full results of the 2011 Bedford Business Survey click here
