Our Business Survey helps us understand the issues that businesses in Denbighshire face and find ways that we can help.
2021 Business Survey
The 2021 Business Survey took place online and over the phone between October and December 2021. There were 421 responses received which is over 10% of businesses registered in Denbighshire.
The following is a summary of the survey highlights.
Town centres
90.5% of the businesses located within a Denbighshire town centre were satisfied with that town centre as a place to trade.
Digital Connectivity
98% of respondents use the internet for their business. The most popular channels used to promote their businesses online were Facebook and Google Listings and businesses’ own websites.
Businesses were asked if their business had adequate mobile signal, 88.6% were satisfied with their mobile signal.
Businesses were also asked what methods they use to promote their business. Businesses give the following responses:
- word of mouth: 95%
- Facebook: 88%
- Google advertising: 77%
- their own website: 70%
Covid-19 impacts on business
Businesses were asked how their businesses were affected financially during the Covid-19 pandemic:
- more than half stated that their business’ finances stayed the same
- 39.7% stated their finances were affected negatively
- 5.2% of businesses stated they fared positively in the Covid-19 Pandemic
For the businesses that reported negative financial impacts, the main issues were:
- Full or partial closure of the business during periods of lockdown
- Reduction in trade, orders, etc.
- Reduced cash flow
Furlough / Job Retention Scheme
Those surveyed were asked if they accessed the Furlough / Job Retention Scheme to which:
- 290 businesses said that they had not accessed the scheme
- 131 businesses said they did access the scheme
Redundancies
Businesses were asked if they had to make any staff redundant.
- 388 businesses said that they did not make redundancies
- 33 businesses said that they had made redundancies
Brexit
When asked if their business had been affected by Brexit, 'no' was the answer for two thirds of businesses (279) while 142 responded that they were affected.
Those that stated they were affected by Brexit were then asked to detail how they were affected. Of the 142 affected businesses, 123 (86.6%) said the main impact was because of delays in their supply chains or delays in the ability to deliver goods to customers overseas.
Business challenges
Two thirds of businesses intend to reduce fixed costs over the next year. Almost a quarter of responses indicated that they were looking to identify new customers or invest in new equipment over the same period.
Business support
The most common sources of business support during the pandemic were:
- HMRC: 57.5%
- UK Government: 54.8%
- Welsh Government 53.4%
Meanwhile, the Development Bank of Wales provided the lowest proportion of responses (2.7%).
Public Protection
Businesses were asked if they had contact with any of the Council’s Public Protection Services in the last two years.
- 387 (91.9%) businesses responded that they had not been in contact
- 34 (8.1%) business said that they had been in contact
When asked if they believed the contact was helpful, the majority, 30 businesses said that it was.
Climate Change
Businesses were asked to detail any changes they have made to reduce climate change and/or prepare for its impact. The responses included:
- Recycling more
- Reviewing travelling routes
- Staff training in recycling
- Encouraging car sharing and cycling to work
- Obtaining ‘Plastic free’ status
- Reducing staff’s working week to 4 days
- Selecting environmentally friendly products where possible
- Reducing electricity usage for laundry
- Implementing new ways of changing to a fully digital software based approach
- Using more environmentally friendly materials
- Changing transport if the infrastructure for electric was widely available
- Installing a biomass heating system