Bexley Town Centre Business Survey

1. Town Centre Business Survey

The London Borough of Bexley wants to better understand the needs of our Town Centre businesses and are seeking your views about what makes our town centres good places for doing business, and what improvements are needed.

This short questionnaire should take around 10 minutes to fill out. Your response to this survey will be treated in confidence and individual responses will not be shared with third parties, but anonymised and aggregated results will be shared with our partners in order to improve our Town Centres and support local businesses.

All participants who complete the survey before midnight on the 8th of July have the option of entering a prize draw to win a meal for two worth up to £75 at an independent Bexley restaurant of your choice.

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* 1. Where is your business located?

Bexleyheath Town Centre

Sidcup Town Centre

Sidcup Station End

Erith Town Centre

Crayford Town Centre

Welling Town Centre

Bexley Village

Barnehurst

Blackfen

Footscray

Northumberland Heath

Abbeywood/Thamesmead

Belvedere/Nuxley

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Which business sector are you in?

Convenience Retail such as food & drink, newsagents, pharmacies

Specialist Retail

Restaurant or café

Pub or nightclub

Leisure (including gyms)

Culture

Health and beauty services

Business, professional and Real Estate services

Financial services

Transport Services

Voluntary/Charity sector

IT/Technology

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Type of business

Part of a national or regional chain

Independent business with multiple local outlets

Independent stand-alone business

Start-up

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* 4. What is your role within your business?

Owner/Director/Partner

Manager

Employee

Other (please specify)

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* 5. How many employees do you have at this location?

0-5

6-10

11-20

21-30

30+

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* 6. How long has the business been located in the town centre or current location?

<1 year

1-3 years

3-5 years

6-10 years

11-20 years

20 years +

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* 7. What made you select this location for your business?

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* 8. Where do the majority of your customers come from?

Mainly local (within walking distance/short drive)

Across Bexley borough

Southeast London

Dartford/ Northwest Kent

London wide

Nationwide

International

Don’t know

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* 9. How would you describe your overall business performance over the past 3 years?

	Significant positive change	Small positive change	No change	Small negative change	Significant negative change
Business turnover	Business turnover Significant positive change	Business turnover Small positive change	Business turnover No change	Business turnover Small negative change	Business turnover Significant negative change
Business profit	Business profit Significant positive change	Business profit Small positive change	Business profit No change	Business profit Small negative change	Business profit Significant negative change
Employment numbers	Employment numbers Significant positive change	Employment numbers Small positive change	Employment numbers No change	Employment numbers Small negative change	Employment numbers Significant negative change
Footfall in business	Footfall in business Significant positive change	Footfall in business Small positive change	Footfall in business No change	Footfall in business Small negative change	Footfall in business Significant negative change

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* 10. How do you expect business performance to change over the next 3 – 5 years?

	Significant positive change	Small positive change	No change	Small negative change	Significant negative change
Business turnover	Business turnover Significant positive change	Business turnover Small positive change	Business turnover No change	Business turnover Small negative change	Business turnover Significant negative change
Business profit	Business profit Significant positive change	Business profit Small positive change	Business profit No change	Business profit Small negative change	Business profit Significant negative change
Employment numbers	Employment numbers Significant positive change	Employment numbers Small positive change	Employment numbers No change	Employment numbers Small negative change	Employment numbers Significant negative change
Footfall in business	Footfall in business Significant positive change	Footfall in business Small positive change	Footfall in business No change	Footfall in business Small negative change	Footfall in business Significant negative change

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* 11. Do you expect to remain in this premise for the next three years? If not, please indicate your reason

Yes - Not planning on moving

No - Expanding to larger premises in same town centre

No - Downsizing to smaller premises in same town centre

No - Moving to other location within Bexley

No- Moving to other location outside of Bexley

No - Planning to close business

Other (please specify)

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* 12. And still thinking about the future, which of these factors do you feel are barriers to growth of the business or reasons for your business decline (tick as many as apply)?

Lack of customers for your services/products

Cost of complying with regulations

Strong competition from other businesses

Premises too small or unsuitable

High cost of overheads including rent and rates

Town Centre area not attractive to customers

High cost of raw materials, goods and services

Town centre are not accessible to customers

High staff costs

Loss of business to online competitors

Other (please specify)

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* 13. What 3 words would you use to describe your town centre by day?

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* 14. What 3 words would you use to describe your town centre by night?

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* 15. How satisfied are you with the town as a place to do business?

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Unatisfied

Very unsatisfied

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* 16. Please tell us more about why you answered the previous question the way you did

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* 17. What do you think about the mix of types of business, shops and services in your town centre. (Please select all those which apply)

	Good	Too much	Not enough or offer not diverse	Low quality	Not affordable
Food shops	Food shops Good	Food shops Too much	Food shops Not enough or offer not diverse	Food shops Low quality	Food shops Not affordable
Other retail	Other retail Good	Other retail Too much	Other retail Not enough or offer not diverse	Other retail Low quality	Other retail Not affordable
Business services	Business services Good	Business services Too much	Business services Not enough or offer not diverse	Business services Low quality	Business services Not affordable
Personal services	Personal services Good	Personal services Too much	Personal services Not enough or offer not diverse	Personal services Low quality	Personal services Not affordable
Restaurants	Restaurants Good	Restaurants Too much	Restaurants Not enough or offer not diverse	Restaurants Low quality	Restaurants Not affordable
Culture and recreation	Culture and recreation Good	Culture and recreation Too much	Culture and recreation Not enough or offer not diverse	Culture and recreation Low quality	Culture and recreation Not affordable
Evening leisure	Evening leisure Good	Evening leisure Too much	Evening leisure Not enough or offer not diverse	Evening leisure Low quality	Evening leisure Not affordable

Are there any specific businesses you think would enhance your town centre?

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* 18. What are following aspects of your town centre location beneficial, neutral or negative to your business?

	Beneficial	Neutral	Negative
High level of footfall	High level of footfall Beneficial	High level of footfall Neutral	High level of footfall Negative
Steady stream of new customers	Steady stream of new customers Beneficial	Steady stream of new customers Neutral	Steady stream of new customers Negative
Loyal customer base (repeat customers)	Loyal customer base (repeat customers) Beneficial	Loyal customer base (repeat customers) Neutral	Loyal customer base (repeat customers) Negative
Links to business network/ community	Links to business network/ community Beneficial	Links to business network/ community Neutral	Links to business network/ community Negative
Relationship with Council (including regulatory regime / enforcement)	Relationship with Council (including regulatory regime / enforcement) Beneficial	Relationship with Council (including regulatory regime / enforcement) Neutral	Relationship with Council (including regulatory regime / enforcement) Negative
Good public transport links	Good public transport links Beneficial	Good public transport links Neutral	Good public transport links Negative
Complementary businesses located nearby	Complementary businesses located nearby Beneficial	Complementary businesses located nearby Neutral	Complementary businesses located nearby Negative
Availability of suitable premises	Availability of suitable premises Beneficial	Availability of suitable premises Neutral	Availability of suitable premises Negative
Cost of premises	Cost of premises Beneficial	Cost of premises Neutral	Cost of premises Negative
Parking	Parking Beneficial	Parking Neutral	Parking Negative

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* 19. How would you rate the following characteristics in your town centre?

	Strongly agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Strongly disagree
It is an attractive place to spend time	It is an attractive place to spend time Strongly agree	It is an attractive place to spend time Somewhat agree	It is an attractive place to spend time Neither agree nor disagree	It is an attractive place to spend time Somewhat disagree	It is an attractive place to spend time Strongly disagree
It provides a comprehensive offer for customers	It provides a comprehensive offer for customers Strongly agree	It provides a comprehensive offer for customers Somewhat agree	It provides a comprehensive offer for customers Neither agree nor disagree	It provides a comprehensive offer for customers Somewhat disagree	It provides a comprehensive offer for customers Strongly disagree
It provides a sense of safety	It provides a sense of safety Strongly agree	It provides a sense of safety Somewhat agree	It provides a sense of safety Neither agree nor disagree	It provides a sense of safety Somewhat disagree	It provides a sense of safety Strongly disagree
It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting)	It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting) Strongly agree	It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting) Somewhat agree	It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting) Neither agree nor disagree	It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting) Somewhat disagree	It has a good quality of public realm (pavements, lighting, furniture, planting) Strongly disagree
It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities	It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities Strongly agree	It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities Somewhat agree	It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities Neither agree nor disagree	It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities Somewhat disagree	It has good signage/ wayfinding facilities Strongly disagree
It has a sense of identity / community	It has a sense of identity / community Strongly agree	It has a sense of identity / community Somewhat agree	It has a sense of identity / community Neither agree nor disagree	It has a sense of identity / community Somewhat disagree	It has a sense of identity / community Strongly disagree
It has adequate parking provision	It has adequate parking provision Strongly agree	It has adequate parking provision Somewhat agree	It has adequate parking provision Neither agree nor disagree	It has adequate parking provision Somewhat disagree	It has adequate parking provision Strongly disagree
It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision	It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision Strongly agree	It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision Somewhat agree	It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision Neither agree nor disagree	It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision Somewhat disagree	It has adequate pedestrian and cycling provision Strongly disagree
It has a comfortable level of noise	It has a comfortable level of noise Strongly agree	It has a comfortable level of noise Somewhat agree	It has a comfortable level of noise Neither agree nor disagree	It has a comfortable level of noise Somewhat disagree	It has a comfortable level of noise Strongly disagree
It has enough special events and occasional markets	It has enough special events and occasional markets Strongly agree	It has enough special events and occasional markets Somewhat agree	It has enough special events and occasional markets Neither agree nor disagree	It has enough special events and occasional markets Somewhat disagree	It has enough special events and occasional markets Strongly disagree

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* 20. What ideas do you have for how your town centre could be improved?

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* 21. Is your business involved in any community projects, business groups, organised events, etc.? (For example a BID, business association, chamber of commerce).

Yes (please specify)

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* 22. Research shows that community value creates economic value in town centres. Many businesses provide valuable, often informal, services to members of the community. Please provide examples of how your business provides additional community value

Providing resources to school or community groups

Providing translation services or sign language

Collecting deliveries

Knowing the names of elderly customers and providing them with a daily conversation

Participating in community safety initiatives (e.g. safety radio scheme, 'Ask Angela', etc)

Participating in community clean-up/beautification initiatives

Sharing of knowledge and expertise through events or mentoring

Identifying and referring lonely or isolated people to support in the community

Support for homeless people

Dementia Friends training and Dementia Friendly schemes

Corporate giving, sponsorship or volunteering

Other (please specify)

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* 23. Thinking about how your business is adapting to the digital economy (Tick all boxes that apply):

	Yes	No, but planning to within next 6 months	No	Training in this would be useful
Does your business have a current website?	Does your business have a current website? Yes	Does your business have a current website? No, but planning to within next 6 months	Does your business have a current website? No	Does your business have a current website? Training in this would be useful
Are you able to sell your goods/services online?	Are you able to sell your goods/services online? Yes	Are you able to sell your goods/services online? No, but planning to within next 6 months	Are you able to sell your goods/services online? No	Are you able to sell your goods/services online? Training in this would be useful
If so, do you offer a click and collect service?	If so, do you offer a click and collect service? Yes	If so, do you offer a click and collect service? No, but planning to within next 6 months	If so, do you offer a click and collect service? No	If so, do you offer a click and collect service? Training in this would be useful
Does your business have an online marketing strategy?	Does your business have an online marketing strategy? Yes	Does your business have an online marketing strategy? No, but planning to within next 6 months	Does your business have an online marketing strategy? No	Does your business have an online marketing strategy? Training in this would be useful
Does your business have a social media presence?	Does your business have a social media presence? Yes	Does your business have a social media presence? No, but planning to within next 6 months	Does your business have a social media presence? No	Does your business have a social media presence? Training in this would be useful
Is your business on Facebook	Is your business on Facebook Yes	Is your business on Facebook No, but planning to within next 6 months	Is your business on Facebook No	Is your business on Facebook Training in this would be useful
Is your business on Twitter	Is your business on Twitter Yes	Is your business on Twitter No, but planning to within next 6 months	Is your business on Twitter No	Is your business on Twitter Training in this would be useful
Is your business on Instagram	Is your business on Instagram Yes	Is your business on Instagram No, but planning to within next 6 months	Is your business on Instagram No	Is your business on Instagram Training in this would be useful
Is your business on Google Marketplace	Is your business on Google Marketplace Yes	Is your business on Google Marketplace No, but planning to within next 6 months	Is your business on Google Marketplace No	Is your business on Google Marketplace Training in this would be useful
Does your business have a social media strategy?	Does your business have a social media strategy? Yes	Does your business have a social media strategy? No, but planning to within next 6 months	Does your business have a social media strategy? No	Does your business have a social media strategy? Training in this would be useful

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* 24. Does your business have any additional training needs? Please tick all that apply.

Health and safety, including First Aid

Data management/GDPR

Human resources

New design or making technology (e.g. 3D printing, laser cutting)

Attracting investment and funding

Sales and marketing

Visual merchandising

Business planning and financial management

Project Management

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Coaching / Mentoring

Other (please specify)

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* 25. We are looking to hold Innovation Labs, to demonstrate these advancing technologies and how they can add value and grow your business, would you be interested in attending?

Yes

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* 26. If you would like to be entered in the prize draw for a meal for two, please enter your name and e-mail address or phone number below.

Name (Optional)

Company (Optional)

Email (Optional)

Phone (Optional)

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* 27. Would you like to sign up for notifications from the Council about training and business support events or about town centre initiatives?

By answering 'Yes' you are agreeing to the use of your data by the Council for the purposes of research or to enable the Economic Development Team to make contact with you in the future in relation to business support and training or town centre initiatives. Your data will not be shared with any other organisations without your consent. You can unsubscribe from our contact database at any time by emailing business@bexley.gov.uk and asking for your details to be removed.

Yes

Thank you very much for taking the time to fill out this survey.

If you have any questions about the survey please contact the Town Centres Team via divindy.grant@bexley.gov.uk