The Brampton Board of Trade has released results of its inaugural Business Confidence and Economic Issues Survey, which queried business owners this past summer about their confidence in the future of their organization and Brampton’s economy. Specific business issues including civic leadership, talent, trade, transit, transportation, innovation, taxes and investment attractiveness were also queried.
Key findings were: · That businesses are quite optimistic about the future and are satisfied with City Council’s pandemic response: · 78 per cent are confident in Brampton’s economic future · 86 per cent are confident in their own organization’s future · 32 per cent expect the number of staff within their organization to increase over the next 12 months · 68 per cent are satisfied with Brampton City Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic “Despite an extraordinarily tough business environment, Brampton business people are pulling together to help one another.”, says Vanessa White, CHRO for Maple Lodge Farms and Chair of the Brampton Board of Trade. “Our survey indicates that businesses look forward to working together, through the Board of Trade and with our elected leaders, to accelerate investments that will help businesses grow. Fundamentally,
Brampton is a great place to do business and our optimism continues.” The survey also found a healthy skepticism towards the effectiveness of governments at all levels, pointing to the need for better collaboration, with only one in two agreeing that the municipal government displays a positive external brand image and shares priorities that align with business needs; and only one in two being confident in Brampton City Council’s ability to make good decisions
“These are tough times. Our elected leaders have tough decisions to make on priorities,” said Todd Letts, CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade. “This confidence survey provides direct, constructive feedback to governments at all levels, about the current harsh market realities and how the decisions and indecision of government directly impacts job-creation and the economic health of our community.”
A broad diversity of business representatives participated in the surveys. The majority of respondents offer B2B services including the manufacturing and construction sectors. About one third offer consumer goods and services. Respondents represent businesses that operate not only in Brampton but throughout Canada. Approximately one quarter of the Brampton businesses have intern a t i o n a l operations. In total, from June 10 – July 3rd, 111 business people completed surveys administered by Narrative Research. More survey results will be released in the coming weeks, the board said in a statement.
