BUSINESSES in the Marches are being re-polled for their views on the economic and business support measures put in place during the pandemic as the region prepares for recovery.

In 2020, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (MLEP) conducted the region’s biggest ever survey as the full impact of the first lockdown hit businesses.

In October, its Economic Recovery Summit polled businesses again, highlighting a range of priorities for rebuilding the region’s economy and helping its business community get back on its feet from the impact of the virus.

Now the MLEP is asking the same questions which featured in the summit poll as part of its ongoing recovery planning, working with its local authority partners in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

Marches LEP chief executive Gill Hamer said a draft recovery plan was well underway, but the organisation was keen to ensure the final blueprint reflected the up-to-date situation.

“Last year, 38 per cent of businesses did not expect to make redundancies in the next 12 months even though 45 per cent were broadly or very pessimistic about the health of the regional economy," she said.

"We’d like to know what those figures are like now, six months on.

“Then, 31 per cent did not think the Government’s new Job Support Scheme would be effective. Of course, since then we’ve had a further lockdown and the furlough scheme has been extended.

“We’re also re-polling for their views on innovation and use of new technology, on e-commerce and financial grant support.

“We are now gathering new data about how businesses across our region have fared during the last 12 months and what they regard as the priorities for the future.

"This evidence will also strengthen our case to Government for targeted support and funding for the Marches.”

The LEP – the business-led partnership responsible for driving the region’s economy – has pledged to maximise all available funding and delivery flexibilities to direct investment and activities towards recovery.

To take part in the survey visit mlep.co.uk/poll