COMPLETE THIS SURVEY TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING AN AMAZON ECHO!

The challenges & advantages of running a rural business

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* 1. Do any of the below apply to you/your business, regarding the past ten years?

I have moved home from an urban area to a rural area

I have moved jobs from an urban area to a rural area

My firm has moved its main location from an urban area to a rural area

My business would be unable to function in an urban location

I have always lived and/or worked in a rural location

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* 2. Have you made any of the below changes to your commute over the past few years?

I walk more

I run more

I bicycle more

I share car/van lifts more

I use public transport more

I use my car more

[My commute hasn’t changed]

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* 3. Why has your commute changed over the past few years? [tick all that apply]

More conscious of fuel costs

More conscious of healthy living/fitness

More conscious of environmental impact

More public transport options

Fewer public transport options

Need to travel further to work

My place of work has changed

[My commute hasn’t changed]

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* 4. Where was your business’s first ‘head office’?

Sofa/couch

Kitchen table

Dedicated office/study in private house

Outbuilding/barn/shed

Warehouse/industrial estate

Office block

Flexible shared working space (e.g. ‘WeWork’)

Other

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* 5. Which of the below do you think are better in your rural location than if/when you worked in an urban area?

Commute

Attractiveness of office

Views/local area

Work/life balance

Colleagues

Local/in-house café

Opportunities to exercise

‘Work benefits’ (e.g. pets in office, freebies, days off, memberships, insurance policies)

Job opportunities

Salary

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* 6. Why did you choose to locate your business rurally?

- Work Life Balance

- Commute

- Surroundings

- It wasn’t a choice, it’s how it has always been

- Business ethos / values

- Customer / Market(s)

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* 7. What age were you when you first used your entrepreneurial skills?

10 yrs or younger

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

50+

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* 8. What are the best stages for entrepreneurs to launch their first business initiative? [Tick all that apply]

Primary school

Secondary school

College/ University

Before starting a full-time job

Alongside another job

Once you’ve been through at least two other jobs

Following a relationship break-up

Following kids moving out of your home

When you’re 50+

When you’re 70+

Other please state

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* 9. How do you think children could be encouraged as entrepreneurs?

Being expected to help with chores at home

Being paid for doing chores at home

Unpaid work experience at local businesses

Paid work at local businesses

Budgeting/financial literacy taught at school/after-school clubs

Digital skills taught at school/after-school clubs

Local enterprise competitions

Following national/international business leaders on social media

Encouraging children to take risks

Encouraging children to ask questions

Encouraging children to think creatively

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* 10. How do you think your local area supports rural businesses? [Tick all that apply]

Area is known as a hub for businesses in my sector (e.g. Lake District leisure, Cambridgeshire tech, Wiltshire pork)

Customers/clients/business partners here like to ‘buy local’/’choose local’

Entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged in the community

Businesses/business-people that move here from urban areas are welcomed

Physical networking between local businesses

Social networks for local businesses

Schools/colleges nurture local talent

Training/workshops available for skilled workforce

Availability of financial support for new enterprises/initiatives

Investment in travel infrastructure

Investment in digital infrastructure

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* 11. does your rural business work with young people? If so how.

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* 12. Have you accessed any funding to start or grow your business?

yes

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* 13. If no why?

too much information

lack of information

too much paperwork

because i couldn't afford the time

because i wasn't prepared to pay consultants fees

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Do you have a business plan?

yes - Formal

yes - informal

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* 15. Opportunities for start-ups have improved in my area

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 16. I feel optimistic for my business’s overall growth prospects

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 17. I have adapted my business strategy to prepare for Brexit

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 18. I have managed to fill any vacancies with suitable candidates

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 19. My business signed a major new business deal/partnership/initiative in the past 12 months

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 20. Brexit should have a positive impact on my business

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 21. I expect to recruit more people to join my business

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 22. I will rely more on digital technology (selling/sourcing online, social media networks, smart tech) for my business to prosper

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

THIS SURVEY WILL CLOSE ON 17th SEPTEMBER 2018 AT MIDNIGHT, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 20th SEPTEMBER 2018 ON OUR WEBSITE www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk and via social media @RuralRBAs

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* 23. Complete the information below to be entered into our prize draw. Terms and conditions apply see website for details.

Name

Company

Email Address