Thames Valley: Businesses urged to participate in BDO barometer survey

Businesses in the region are encouraged to take part in the latest Thames Valley Business Barometer which has now opened and runs until the end of October. The bi-annual survey of the region’s business leaders provides a snapshot of economic confidence and business performance across the Thames Valley. The Barometer has tracked developing business trends in the region for the past seven years.

The Barometer survey is carried out by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP and Thames Valley-based PR and marketing agency, C8 Consulting. As well as focusing on economic confidence, growth and employment intentions, the latest Barometer will also look at cyber security trends within Thames Valley businesses. The survey results will be published and circulated in January 2019.

Simon Brooker, partner and head of BDO in the Thames Valley, said: “The results of the last survey show that order books, headcount, turnover and profit levels across the region showed healthy improvements, with the majority of performance indicators showing slightly better levels than those seen in the autumn 2017 Barometer six months earlier. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the impact of Brexit, business confidence rose from 53% last autumn to 77% in spring this year.”

Paula Elliott, managing director, C8 Consulting, commented: “The previous survey put the spotlight on environmental issues and it was interesting that the drivers for organisations to implement policies didn’t evolve around reducing costs, but were more about reputation and reducing their environmental footprint. This survey will look at the prevailing challenges around cybersecurity and how Thames Valley businesses are responding to the threats they face to their reputations, revenues and business continuity.”

Companies interested in participating in the Barometer can access the online survey here or via either the BDO or the C8 website.