Neighbourhood Board Business Needs Survey

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* 1. Tell us what you think of the current business environment in Eastbourne. Please tick all those that apply.

Eastbourne is an excellent business location

Eastbourne has declined as a business location in recent years

Eastbourne has a strong enterprise culture

More help is needed to help Eastbourne businesses thrive

Other comments:

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* 2. As a business professional, what would you like to see the Neighbourhood Board focus on in the next 5-10 years? On a scale of 1-5, where 1 is NOT IMPORTANT and 5 is VERY IMPORTANT.

	1	2	3	4	5
Access to business support / finance	Access to business support / finance 1	Access to business support / finance 2	Access to business support / finance 3	Access to business support / finance 4	Access to business support / finance 5
Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes	Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes 1	Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes 2	Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes 3	Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes 4	Active travel schemes across the borough e.g. cycle lanes 5
Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives	Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives 1	Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives 2	Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives 3	Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives 4	Business growth grants / enterprise initiatives 5
Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives	Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives 1	Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives 2	Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives 3	Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives 4	Climate change resilience / net zero / renewable energy initiatives 5
Developing a stronger night time economy	Developing a stronger night time economy 1	Developing a stronger night time economy 2	Developing a stronger night time economy 3	Developing a stronger night time economy 4	Developing a stronger night time economy 5
Digital and AI projects for business	Digital and AI projects for business 1	Digital and AI projects for business 2	Digital and AI projects for business 3	Digital and AI projects for business 4	Digital and AI projects for business 5
Improved town centre facilities and safety	Improved town centre facilities and safety 1	Improved town centre facilities and safety 2	Improved town centre facilities and safety 3	Improved town centre facilities and safety 4	Improved town centre facilities and safety 5
Influencing local and regional economic policy	Influencing local and regional economic policy 1	Influencing local and regional economic policy 2	Influencing local and regional economic policy 3	Influencing local and regional economic policy 4	Influencing local and regional economic policy 5
Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development	Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development 1	Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development 2	Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development 3	Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development 4	Infrastructure investment / commercial premises / development 5
Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors	Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors 1	Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors 2	Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors 3	Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors 4	Inward investment (e.g.The Eden Project?) / new sectors 5
Leisure, sports and wellness facilities	Leisure, sports and wellness facilities 1	Leisure, sports and wellness facilities 2	Leisure, sports and wellness facilities 3	Leisure, sports and wellness facilities 4	Leisure, sports and wellness facilities 5
Local procurement and supply chain development	Local procurement and supply chain development 1	Local procurement and supply chain development 2	Local procurement and supply chain development 3	Local procurement and supply chain development 4	Local procurement and supply chain development 5
Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne	Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne 1	Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne 2	Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne 3	Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne 4	Marketing and promotion of year-round tourism in Eastbourne 5
The Seafront	The Seafront 1	The Seafront 2	The Seafront 3	The Seafront 4	The Seafront 5
Skills training for local people of all ages	Skills training for local people of all ages 1	Skills training for local people of all ages 2	Skills training for local people of all ages 3	Skills training for local people of all ages 4	Skills training for local people of all ages 5
Travel, public transport and parking	Travel, public transport and parking 1	Travel, public transport and parking 2	Travel, public transport and parking 3	Travel, public transport and parking 4	Travel, public transport and parking 5

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Please rank your most pressing business related concerns on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is NOT IMPORTANT and 5 is VERY IMPORTANT

	1	2	3	4	5
Access to finance / cash flow	Access to finance / cash flow 1	Access to finance / cash flow 2	Access to finance / cash flow 3	Access to finance / cash flow 4	Access to finance / cash flow 5
Access to childcare	Access to childcare 1	Access to childcare 2	Access to childcare 3	Access to childcare 4	Access to childcare 5
Business planning for the future	Business planning for the future 1	Business planning for the future 2	Business planning for the future 3	Business planning for the future 4	Business planning for the future 5
Decline in tourism trade generally	Decline in tourism trade generally 1	Decline in tourism trade generally 2	Decline in tourism trade generally 3	Decline in tourism trade generally 4	Decline in tourism trade generally 5
Exports / tariffs	Exports / tariffs 1	Exports / tariffs 2	Exports / tariffs 3	Exports / tariffs 4	Exports / tariffs 5
Finding, training and retaining staff	Finding, training and retaining staff 1	Finding, training and retaining staff 2	Finding, training and retaining staff 3	Finding, training and retaining staff 4	Finding, training and retaining staff 5
Finding suitable premises	Finding suitable premises 1	Finding suitable premises 2	Finding suitable premises 3	Finding suitable premises 4	Finding suitable premises 5
Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb	Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb 1	Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb 2	Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb 3	Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb 4	Demand for non-serviced accommodation e.g. Airbnb 5
Increased competition	Increased competition 1	Increased competition 2	Increased competition 3	Increased competition 4	Increased competition 5
International trade / EU red tape	International trade / EU red tape 1	International trade / EU red tape 2	International trade / EU red tape 3	International trade / EU red tape 4	International trade / EU red tape 5
Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation	Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation 1	Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation 2	Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation 3	Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation 4	Technology, cyber security, AI & digital transformation 5
Rising costs / profitability / pricing	Rising costs / profitability / pricing 1	Rising costs / profitability / pricing 2	Rising costs / profitability / pricing 3	Rising costs / profitability / pricing 4	Rising costs / profitability / pricing 5
Regulatory compliance	Regulatory compliance 1	Regulatory compliance 2	Regulatory compliance 3	Regulatory compliance 4	Regulatory compliance 5
Sales and marketing	Sales and marketing 1	Sales and marketing 2	Sales and marketing 3	Sales and marketing 4	Sales and marketing 5
Supply chain management	Supply chain management 1	Supply chain management 2	Supply chain management 3	Supply chain management 4	Supply chain management 5
Work life balance / employee wellbeing	Work life balance / employee wellbeing 1	Work life balance / employee wellbeing 2	Work life balance / employee wellbeing 3	Work life balance / employee wellbeing 4	Work life balance / employee wellbeing 5

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What is your business sector?

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, horticulture, viticulture, marine

Mining and quarrying

Manufacturing

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation

Construction

Wholesale and motor retail, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Transportation and storage

Accommodation and food service

Information and communication including digital

Financial and insurance

Real estate / property services

Professional, scientific and technical

Business support and administration

Public administration and defence; compulsory social security

Education

Human health and social work

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Retail

E-commerce, online retail, online training, online subscription services and trading platforms

Voluntary third sector - charities, CICs and social enterprises

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* 5. Is your business in Eastbourne.....

A home based sole trader

A home based micro business (9 staff or fewer)

A small business in a shared space / work hub

A private company or partnership operating from one independent location

A private company or partnership operating from two or more locations

Part of a group or chain with multiple branches

A Company HQ or PLC

Internationally owned

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How long has your business been established?

Less than 2 years

2-5 years

6-10 years

11+ years

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* 7. Where are your customers based? Tick all that apply.

In Eastbourne

In Sussex outside Eastbourne

In the South East (outside Sussex and London)

In London

In the UK (outside London and the South East)

Internationally

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* 8. What is your role in the business?

Owner / co-owner

Sole Trader / freelancer

Director / senior manager

Branch / premises manager

Franchisee

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Where is your business located in Eastbourne?

Home

Retail / business park

Seafront

Town centre

Other (please specify)

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* 10. In what type of premises do you operate in Eastbourne?

Home based

Hotel / guest house / B&B

Industrial / workshop / gym premises

Retail

Restaurant / Cafe / Pub / Club / Bar

Warehouse / distribution

Offices

Other (please specify)

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* 11. In the medium term (1-5 years) do you anticipate the need to relocate your business?

Yes - due to expansion

Yes - due to contraction or merger

Unsure

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* 12. What was your Company's turnover last financial year?

Up to £249K

£250K to £499K

£500K to £999K

£1m to £4.9m

£5m to £9.9m

£10m +

I'd prefer not to say

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* 13. In this financial year do you expect your turnover to...

Expand

Contract

Remain the same

I'd prefer not to say

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* 14. How many people does your company employ directly in Eastbourne?

Just me

2-9

10-49

50-99

100-249

250+

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* 15. Have you recruited people for Eastbourne based roles in the last 12 months?

Yes

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* 16. In your experience, do you think there are sufficient candidates with relevant experience in Eastbourne?

	Probably yes	Probably not	Unsure	N/A
Graduate trainees	Graduate trainees Probably yes	Graduate trainees Probably not	Graduate trainees Unsure	Graduate trainees N/A
Middle / senior management	Middle / senior management Probably yes	Middle / senior management Probably not	Middle / senior management Unsure	Middle / senior management N/A
Contract workers / freelancers / temporary staff	Contract workers / freelancers / temporary staff Probably yes	Contract workers / freelancers / temporary staff Probably not	Contract workers / freelancers / temporary staff Unsure	Contract workers / freelancers / temporary staff N/A
People with digital / AI skills	People with digital / AI skills Probably yes	People with digital / AI skills Probably not	People with digital / AI skills Unsure	People with digital / AI skills N/A
People with construction / trade skills	People with construction / trade skills Probably yes	People with construction / trade skills Probably not	People with construction / trade skills Unsure	People with construction / trade skills N/A
People with hospitality / hotel skills	People with hospitality / hotel skills Probably yes	People with hospitality / hotel skills Probably not	People with hospitality / hotel skills Unsure	People with hospitality / hotel skills N/A
People with engineering / technical skills	People with engineering / technical skills Probably yes	People with engineering / technical skills Probably not	People with engineering / technical skills Unsure	People with engineering / technical skills N/A
Clinical or primary care workers	Clinical or primary care workers Probably yes	Clinical or primary care workers Probably not	Clinical or primary care workers Unsure	Clinical or primary care workers N/A
People with retail skills	People with retail skills Probably yes	People with retail skills Probably not	People with retail skills Unsure	People with retail skills N/A
People with sales skills	People with sales skills Probably yes	People with sales skills Probably not	People with sales skills Unsure	People with sales skills N/A

Other (please specify)

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* 17. In Eastbourne are your staffing levels likely to change in the coming year?

Expand

Contract

Remain the same

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* 18. How far do your employees typically travel to work?

Less than one mile

1-4 miles

5-9 miles

10 miles +

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* 19. Would you like to be added to the Neighbourhood Board e-new distribution list? If yes, please enter your email address here:

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* 20. What is your business name:

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* 21. What is your business postcode:

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* 22. What is your name:

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* 23. Are you a member of a local network?

Chalk Eastbourne

Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce

Your Eastbourne BID

Eastbourne Hospitality Association

Federation of Small Business

Institute of Directors (Sussex)

Seafront Stakeholder Group

Sea Defences Stakeholder Group

Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Cornerstones Networking Group

BNI

Wayfinder Woman

Other (please specify)

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* 24. How did you hear of this survey?

Eastbourne Borough Council

Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board

Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce

Local press

Social Media

Word of mouth / colleague

Other (please specify)

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* 25. Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Your input is extremely valuable and will inform the work of the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board. If you would like further information about our work, please visit https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/Eastbourne-Neighbourhood-Board.

If you would like to add a further comment to this survey, please do so below.