Dorset and BCP Employer Skills Survey Autumn 2025

We're conducting a Dorset Chamber survey about recruitment and workplace skills which is funded by Skills England. The survey will enable Government and local training providers to help employers like you by better understanding your skills and training needs. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time and input on this important activity. Dorset Chamber's privacy policy is available on their website.

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* 1. Where in Dorset is your business based (or have a site)?

Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole

Dorset Council area

Not in BCP / Dorset

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* 2. Do you have responsibility for ensuring your business has staff with the right skills? (This includes involvement with hiring, training, and recommendations for new jobs roles)

Yes

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* 3. Is your business advertising for new staff or have you recruited anyone in the last 12 months (for Dorset site)?

Yes

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* 4. What actions does your business take to support inclusive recruitment - across age, gender, disability or other diversity?

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* 5. Have you found any of the following skills difficult to obtain from applicants?

	Yes	No
Digital Skills	Digital Skills Yes	Digital Skills No
Maths	Maths Yes	Maths No
English	English Yes	English No
Employability skills	Employability skills Yes	Employability skills No

Any other skills? (please specify)

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* 6. To be sustainable and meet net zero targets, what skills do your staff require?

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* 7. Is your organisation currently using any specific AI Technology?

Yes

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* 8. In the next 3 years, which new skills do you think will be most in demand for your business? ie, AI, net zero/carbon reduction, digital, technology specific skills, health related tech or others?

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* 9. Have you hosted anyone for work experience or placement of any age, in the past year?

Yes

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* 10. In the last 12 months has your establishment taken on anyone who has been on this kind of placement with you into a permanent or long-term position?

Yes

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* 11. If you have recently recruited, please could you rate how well prepared for work have recruits been on a five point scale from very well prepared to not at all prepared?

	Very well prepared (5)	4	3	2	Not at all prepared (1)
16-18 years	16-18 years Very well prepared (5)	16-18 years 4	16-18 years 3	16-18 years 2	16-18 years Not at all prepared (1)
18-25 years	18-25 years Very well prepared (5)	18-25 years 4	18-25 years 3	18-25 years 2	18-25 years Not at all prepared (1)
26-49 years	26-49 years Very well prepared (5)	26-49 years 4	26-49 years 3	26-49 years 2	26-49 years Not at all prepared (1)
50 + years	50 + years Very well prepared (5)	50 + years 4	50 + years 3	50 + years 2	50 + years Not at all prepared (1)

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* 12. Can you find local training courses and qualifications that meet your current and future skills needs?

Yes

Don't know / Not tried

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* 13. How would you describe your main business activity?

Health & Social Care

Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering (including Defence and Marine)

Construction

Digital Technology & Creative

Financial Services

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Depending on your sector, please answer the following question.

Health and Social Care - What are the main barriers to addressing skills gaps in your organisation?

Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering / Construction / Defence / Marine - What measures do you use to recruit younger workers?

Financial - What actions do you take to retain employees?

Creative and Digital - What skills are most critical to your business?

Please select your sector and then answer the relevant question here:

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* 15. How many employees does your business employ?

1-9

10-49

50-249

250+

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* 16. Would you like further information about local training or the local Skills Improvement Plan and its impact?

Your Name

Company name

Thank you for supporting local skills and training and completing our survey. More information about the local skills improvement plan is available on Dorset Chamber's website.