Share your views in new survey

30 November 2009

Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney a chance to share their views, as part of its annual London Thames Gateway Business Survey being carried out in December. The survey will identify what businesses think of their region and how they believe it could be improved to benefit the local economy. The findings will be used to present businesses' views to decision makers.

John Williams, Chief Executive of Gateway to London said: "The annual business survey is an important piece of research for our region. We will share the results of the survey with our partners to lobby for positive changes for business such as transport improvements, so please log on and tell us what you think".

Last year's survey uncovered some interesting findings, including the fact that nearly eight out of 10 companies in London Thames Gateway were happy with their location.

When surveyed in 2008, 79 per cent of companies in the region, which includes the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets, said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their London Thames Gateway location, a notable increase on the 2007 survey where 67 per cent of firms gave the same answer.

The survey revealed that four out of 10 businesses highlighted property availability as the key factor in relocating to the London Thames Gateway. A similar proportion cited the low property costs compared with other parts of the UK.



And for those in the E postcode the 2008 business survey revealed that:

* Thirty one per cent said the region had got better in the last 12 months, the highest score of all postcode districts.

* Property availability (47 per cent) and access to customers (47 per cent) were the most common reasons for being located in this district.

Survey specialists ComRes will collect and analyse results from local businesses across the region on behalf of Gateway to London, the agency tasked with securing jobs and investment in what is Europe's largest growth area.

Complete the survey at: www.gtlon.co.uk