How's Business Survey April 2023

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* 1. Was your business closed at all between January and March - if so, what periods?

We were open all through January and March

We had some periods we were closed (Please specify when eg some weekends in January)

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* 2. How do visitor numbers / bookings compare to normal expectations (pre-COVID)?

	January - March 2023	Easter / April 2023
Up by over 50%	Up by over 50% January - March 2023	Up by over 50% Easter / April 2023
Up between 20-50%	Up between 20-50% January - March 2023	Up between 20-50% Easter / April 2023
Up between 0-20%	Up between 0-20% January - March 2023	Up between 0-20% Easter / April 2023
Same	Same January - March 2023	Same Easter / April 2023
Down by up to 20%	Down by up to 20% January - March 2023	Down by up to 20% Easter / April 2023
Down between 20-50%	Down between 20-50% January - March 2023	Down between 20-50% Easter / April 2023
Down by over 50%	Down by over 50% January - March 2023	Down by over 50% Easter / April 2023
We weren't open	We weren't open January - March 2023	We weren't open Easter / April 2023

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* 3. How does your business turnover compare to normal expectations (pre-COVID)?

	January - March 2023	Easter / April 2023
Up by over 50%	Up by over 50% January - March 2023	Up by over 50% Easter / April 2023
Up between 20-50%	Up between 20-50% January - March 2023	Up between 20-50% Easter / April 2023
Up between 0-20%	Up between 0-20% January - March 2023	Up between 0-20% Easter / April 2023
Same	Same January - March 2023	Same Easter / April 2023
Down by up to 20%	Down by up to 20% January - March 2023	Down by up to 20% Easter / April 2023
Down between 20-50%	Down between 20-50% January - March 2023	Down between 20-50% Easter / April 2023
Down by over 50%	Down by over 50% January - March 2023	Down by over 50% Easter / April 2023
We weren't open	We weren't open January - March 2023	We weren't open Easter / April 2023

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* 4. How confident are you about trading over the Summer?

Very confident

Somewhat confident

Unsure

Not so confident

Not at all confident

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* 5. What are your current levels of forward bookings?

	Up to 25% capacity	25-49%	50-74%	75%+	n/a
Summer 2023 (May - August)	Summer 2023 (May - August) Up to 25% capacity	Summer 2023 (May - August) 25-49%	Summer 2023 (May - August) 50-74%	Summer 2023 (May - August) 75%+	Summer 2023 (May - August) n/a
Autumn 2023 (September - November)	Autumn 2023 (September - November) Up to 25% capacity	Autumn 2023 (September - November) 25-49%	Autumn 2023 (September - November) 50-74%	Autumn 2023 (September - November) 75%+	Autumn 2023 (September - November) n/a
Winter 2023 (December - February)	Winter 2023 (December - February) Up to 25% capacity	Winter 2023 (December - February) 25-49%	Winter 2023 (December - February) 50-74%	Winter 2023 (December - February) 75%+	Winter 2023 (December - February) n/a
Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards)	Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards) Up to 25% capacity	Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards) 25-49%	Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards) 50-74%	Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards) 75%+	Spring / summer 2024 (March onwards) n/a

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* 6. Is your business affected by any of the following external factors? Please tick all that apply.

Poor economic climate / less money in consumer pockets

Increasing energy and fuel costs

Increasing supplier costs

Other supplier issues (delays, lack of stock, etc)

Increased wages and NI costs

Covid-related staffing issues and absences

High staff turnover

Staff vacancies and lack of applicants to fill positions

Skills gap - lack of suitably qualified / experienced people

VAT thresholds

Cost of finance / interest rates

Access to finance

Ability to attract customers

Competition from local businesses

Competition from rest of UK

Competition from overseas

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What is your biggest business concern this year?

Poor economic climate / less consumer spending

Increasing energy and fuel costs

Increasing supplier costs

Other supplier issues (delays, lack of stock, etc)

Increased wages and NI costs

Covid-related staffing issues and absences

High staff turnover

Staff vacancies and lack of applicants to fill positions

Skills gap - lack of suitably qualified / experienced people

VAT thresholds

Cost of finance / interest rates

Access to finance

Ability to attract customers

Competition from local businesses

Competition from rest of UK

Competition from overseas

Other (please specify)

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* 8. How has your business responded to increasing costs this year? Please tick all that apply.

Increased prices by up to 10%

Increased prices by over 10%

Increasing revenue opening for more of the year

Increasing secondary spend

Cut costs by reducing staff

Cut costs by delaying investment, building or maintenance works

Cut costs by reducing opening hours / periods

Cut costs by reducing areas of operation

No adjustments made - I am not concerned or impacted by cost increases

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How many people does your business employ?

Less than 5

Less than 10

Less than 50

Less than 100

Less than 250

More than 250

N/a - I don't employ any staff

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* 10. What percentage of staff roles are currently vacant?

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* 11. What areas of operation do you have vacancies in? Please tick all that apply.

Front of house / reception

Housekeeping

Maintenance

Bar staff

Waiting On

Chefs

Other Kitchen

Retail

Visitor experience / entertainment

Sales & Marketing

Other office - admin, finance, etc

Management roles

Other (please specify)

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* 12. How would you describe recruitment this year compared to usual?

Less challenging / same - no issues with recruiting staff

Some challenges with seasonal roles

Some challenges with certain types of role

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* 13. What are the leading challenges linked to staff recruitment and retention?

	Significant problem	Slight problem	No problem
Loss of European workers post BREXIT	Loss of European workers post BREXIT Significant problem	Loss of European workers post BREXIT Slight problem	Loss of European workers post BREXIT No problem
Recruitment costs	Recruitment costs Significant problem	Recruitment costs Slight problem	Recruitment costs No problem
Lack of applicants	Lack of applicants Significant problem	Lack of applicants Slight problem	Lack of applicants No problem
Agency Costs	Agency Costs Significant problem	Agency Costs Slight problem	Agency Costs No problem
Increasing wage costs	Increasing wage costs Significant problem	Increasing wage costs Slight problem	Increasing wage costs No problem
Skills shortage - lack of suitably qualified / experienced applicants / staff	Skills shortage - lack of suitably qualified / experienced applicants / staff Significant problem	Skills shortage - lack of suitably qualified / experienced applicants / staff Slight problem	Skills shortage - lack of suitably qualified / experienced applicants / staff No problem
Staff training	Staff training Significant problem	Staff training Slight problem	Staff training No problem
Poor public transport connectivity	Poor public transport connectivity Significant problem	Poor public transport connectivity Slight problem	Poor public transport connectivity No problem
Lack of affordable public transport	Lack of affordable public transport Significant problem	Lack of affordable public transport Slight problem	Lack of affordable public transport No problem

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* 14. What, if any, actions have you taken to address recruitment challenges? Please tick all that apply.

Increased salaries

Improved hours / shift patterns

Improved benefits

Offered training

Offered help with transport

Offered accommodation

Other (please specify)

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* 15. Have staffing issues impacted on your business in any of the following ways? Please tick all that apply.

Paused trading / closed some areas of operation

Affected quality of the visitor experience

Staff working increased hours

Recruited temporary staff

Increased costs significantly

Decreased profitability

Not affected business in any way

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* 16. Based on current levels of trading and the general outlook moving forwards, how confident are you that your business will survive?

	Very confident	Somewhat confident	Unsure	Not so confident	Not at all confident
To the end of summer 2023	To the end of summer 2023 Very confident	To the end of summer 2023 Somewhat confident	To the end of summer 2023 Unsure	To the end of summer 2023 Not so confident	To the end of summer 2023 Not at all confident
To the end of the year 2023	To the end of the year 2023 Very confident	To the end of the year 2023 Somewhat confident	To the end of the year 2023 Unsure	To the end of the year 2023 Not so confident	To the end of the year 2023 Not at all confident
The next 2-3 years	The next 2-3 years Very confident	The next 2-3 years Somewhat confident	The next 2-3 years Unsure	The next 2-3 years Not so confident	The next 2-3 years Not at all confident

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* 17. Are there any interventions that you feel would most help your business at this time? Please tick all that apply.

Reduced VAT for tourism and hospitality

Reduced VAT for energy costs

Reduced VAT for food supply costs

Business rates relief

Access to finance

More investment for destination marketing

Positive PR

Business support to improve efficiency / reduce business costs

Business support to maximise sales opportunities and revenue

Business support to address recruitment challenges

Business support to maximise use of digital channels and technology

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What is your main business activity?

Serviced accommodation (e.g. hotels)

Self catering, B&B and guest houses

Caravans, camping & glamping

Visitor Attraction (mainly outdoors)

Visitor Attraction (mainly indoors)

Events & Festivals

Cultural venue

Wedding venue

Business events / conference venue

Food & Drink establishment

Food & Drink producer

Retail

Coach / tour operator

Other (please specify)

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* 19. In which council area is your business based?

Blackburn with Darwen

Blackpool

Burnley

Chorley

Fylde

Hyndburn

Lancaster

Pendle

Preston

Ribble Valley

Rossendale

South Ribble

West Lancashire

Wyre

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* 20. If you have any further comments about how business is, and any patterns you are seeing, any feedback or support you need, please provide this in the space below.

How's Business Survey April 2023

Question Title

* 1. Was your business closed at all between January and March - if so, what periods?

Question Title

* 2. How do visitor numbers / bookings compare to normal expectations (pre-COVID)?

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* 3. How does your business turnover compare to normal expectations (pre-COVID)?

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* 4. How confident are you about trading over the Summer?

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* 5. What are your current levels of forward bookings?

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* 6. Is your business affected by any of the following external factors? Please tick all that apply.

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* 7. What is your biggest business concern this year?

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* 8. How has your business responded to increasing costs this year? Please tick all that apply.

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* 9. How many people does your business employ?

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* 10. What percentage of staff roles are currently vacant?

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* 11. What areas of operation do you have vacancies in? Please tick all that apply.

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* 12. How would you describe recruitment this year compared to usual?

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* 13. What are the leading challenges linked to staff recruitment and retention?

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* 14. What, if any, actions have you taken to address recruitment challenges? Please tick all that apply.

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* 15. Have staffing issues impacted on your business in any of the following ways? Please tick all that apply.

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* 16. Based on current levels of trading and the general outlook moving forwards, how confident are you that your business will survive?

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* 17. Are there any interventions that you feel would most help your business at this time? Please tick all that apply.

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* 18. What is your main business activity?

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* 19. In which council area is your business based?

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* 20. If you have any further comments about how business is, and any patterns you are seeing, any feedback or support you need, please provide this in the space below.

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* 21. Business name (optional)

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* 22. Your email (optional)