Business owners and operators have been urged to take part in Westmorland and Furness Council’s first annual business survey.

The council’s Economic Development and Regeneration team launched the survey at the end of May, with everybody who owns or operates a business in Westmorland and Furness asked to contribute to help ensure their views and insight to inform future economic support strategies and policies.

The survey closes on June 28 and any business owner who has not yet done so is urged to ensure their voice is heard.

Angela Jones, Director of Thriving Places, said: “We have had a brilliant response so far to our first annual business survey with lots of insight and intelligence which will inform our policies and strategies and help us target our work effectively where it is most needed to make Westmorland and Furness a great place to live, work and thrive.

“There is still time to contribute and I urge any business owner or operator who has not done so already to take part and let us know their plans for the future and views on how we can best support the Westmorland and Furness economy.”

This important data-gathering exercise takes just five to 10 minutes to complete.The information gathered will help the council to better plan for future employment development and to understand the opportunities and challenges facing the business community.
The response will also make sure that the voice of the business community informs the development of the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan, setting out our strategy for land allocations in a way which ensures the right types of employment and housing development, balancing the economic, social and environmental impacts.

Issues covered in the survey include levels of confidence for the next 12 months, projected staffing levels, anticipated future business premises needs and the importance of addressing climate change to respondents.

Businesses have received the survey by post and are encouraged to take part digitally by scanning the enclosed QR code or through the website.

Click here to take part in the survey.

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration team has launched a new website – Invest in Westmorland and Furness – to support our business community and potential inward investors to grow and thrive, with information about business support and opportunities, and a free business premises search tool coming soon.

Click here to go to the Invest in Westmorland and Furness website.

An Invest in Westmorland and Furness email newsletter has also been launched to boost businesses with useful news, information and signposts to support.

Click here to sign up to the Invest in Westmorland and Furness email newsletter.