Shropshire Chamber Coronavirus Business Survey Results
Survey Results August
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Results drawn from interactions made by both the Chamber Membership Team and DIT International Trade Advisors.
Throughout August business conditions do seem to have improved if only modestly. Half of those surveyed have no members of staff currently on furlough and 10% reported an increase in their order books. However, over 40% are still experiencing problems with a lack of sales and one in ten have made redundancy plans.
As we move towards the end of the emergency support packages it is vital that the government consider further support to help firms survive over the months ahead.
Of those surveyed, 49% were micro businesses, 41% small and 10% medium.
Survey Results Week 6 – June 1 – 9
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Results drawn from interactions made by both the Chamber Membership Team and DIT International Trade Advisors. The results were collected from a survey conducted between 1st – 9th June.
Of those surveyed, 61% were micro businesses, 30% small, 4% medium and 4% large.
Survey Results Week 5 – May 20 – 28
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Results drawn from interactions made throughout May, from both the Chamber Membership Team and DIT International Trade Advisors.
Of those surveyed, 65% were micro businesses, 27% small, 4% medium and 4% large.
Survey Results Week 4 – May 4 – 18
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We collated data from 899 interaction with members around the effect Coronavirus has had on their business.
Key results include:
- Over 70% of respondents identified as Micro Businesses (between 1 and 10 staff)
- 75% of those surveyed operate in Shropshire, with 25% based in Telford and Wrekin
- 36% of those surveyed identified as self-employed
- Over 60% of respondents stated that they had now applied for support via The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, this is an increase of 10% on the previous week
- A majority of businesses (53%) stated they have an interest in digital marketing training opportunities
- Firms told us that staff wellbeing, remote sales and business development, and managing change training opportunities would all be useful moving forward
- Businesses are concerned about accessing PPE once their workplaces re-open
- Further clarity on specific sectors re-opening their workplaces, and greater information from government on their longer-term plans to support businesses were both cited as crucial in supporting firms
- Businesses expressed issues over ineligibility for government grants and, slow and difficult loan applications
- As expected, some firms have stated they have experienced a drop in international trade
Survey Results Week 3 – Week commencing April 27
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We collated data from 102 members around the effect Coronavirus has had on their business.
Key results include:
- A majority of firms surveyed have furloughed members of staff with 77% stating some level of furlough within their business, this figure is relatively unchanged from last week’s 79%
- 80% of businesses surveyed told us that they feel confident they will be able to operate moving forward due to the Job Retention Scheme going live, a figure which is unchanged from the previous week
- 92% had not encountered difficulties with landlords over business rental payments, an increase of 1% on the previous week
- There was a 50:50 split between those surveyed who had and had not applied for the Job Retention Scheme, of the half of those who had not yet applied 65% stated they have no intention of applying for the scheme in future, in last week’ survey we found that 54% of firms had not yet applied for the scheme and of those, 64% intended on applying
- 58% believe they have around 3-6 months cash flow reserves, which is down 4% on the previous week
- Following the Coronavirus crisis 32% feel that support managing cash flow would be helpful in assisting their business, which is a fall of 10% on the previous week
- However, 29% have expressed assistance in moving their business capacity online would be beneficial and 28% called for greater support in managing employees returning from furlough
Survey Results Week 2 – Week commencing April 20
We collated data from 113 members around the effect Coronavirus has had on their business.
Key results include:
- A majority of those surveyed have now furloughed members of staff (79%)
- Following HMRC’s Job Retention portal going live on Monday 20 April, 80% of businesses now feel confident that they will be able to operate moving forward
- Over 90% of those surveyed had faced no difficulties with landlords over business rental payments
- Around 54% of respondents expressed they had not applied for the government’s furlough scheme. Of the 54% who had not yet applied 64% of these expressed that they intend to apply in the future.’
- 62% of those surveyed indicated they have around 3-6 months of cash flow reserves
- Following the Coronavirus crisis 42% of those surveyed stated that support in managing cash flow would helpful in assisting their business
Survey Results Week 1 – Week commencing April 13
We collated data from 140 members around the effect Coronavirus has had on their business.
Key results include:
- Of those surveyed 78% stated they have all the appropriate information regarding the various government relief packages.
- 65% of firms had already furloughed members of staff.
- The vast majority of those surveyed have not encountered difficulties with landlords over business rental payments (90%).
- Worryingly, 39% of those surveyed do not feel confident that they will be able to operate as a business before receiving government assistance.
- 84% of those surveyed expressed that they haven’t had to close their business permanently with 10% stating they have.
- Positively, most businesses have not requested to delay payments to suppliers (64%).
- A majority of businesses (74%) have told us that they have not withheld payments to suppliers.