A week left to take part in business confidence survey

Businesses have only a week left to take part in a survey that will offer a pre-election look at their main concerns. The results of the East Midlands Chamber Quarterly Economic Survey will provide a snapshot of confidence levels in the fourth quarter since the EU-Referendum last June and set a benchmark against which the success of the new Government can be judged.

The survey for the second three months of 2017 asks businesses how they have fared in recent months and expect to fare in the months ahead, including whether they expect prices to rise and are considering increasing wages.

There are additional questions this quarter to determine relationships between growth and recruitment, planned investment in staff training and what factors might influence investment in training.

Whether employers believe they will get good value from the apprenticeship levy also features.

Data collated from the East Midlands Chamber* QES will update the regional State of the Economy Index – which last quarter was at its highest since Q2 2105 – and is fed into the British Chambers of Commerce QES, which builds a national picture of business confidence and shapes the BCC’s interactions with Government.

Chris Hobson, the Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said: “It takes only a few minutes to complete the survey and the information it gives us is vital to driving our policies and the issues on which we will campaign on behalf of businesses. “You don’t have to be a Chamber member to take part, the important thing is that we get as many businesses as possible to complete the survey so that we build the most accurate picture possible and can make sure our lobbying activities properly reflect the concerns of regional businesses.”

To take part in the survey, visit http://bit.ly/2rPvgVo. The closing date is Monday 12 June. There will be a draw from among those responding for a chance to win a meal for two at the new Whisk and Ladle Bar and Kitchen, Hilton, East Midlands Airport.