Download - Enterprise Support Service Client Survey 2012 Small Business Startups in South Kerry 2008-2010
Enterprise Support Service Client Survey 2012Small Business Startups in South Kerry 2008-2010
Background
• South Kerry Development Partnership Limited Strategic Plan 2011 – 2013
• Goal 3: Develop and sustain strategies to increase local self employment prospects
• Enterprise Support Service• Business Advice• Business Planning• BTWEA• Enterprise Training• Mentoring Support• Networking• Partnership
Aim of Survey
• How are the small businesses that were set up in 2008, 2009 and 2010 doing in the current market place
• How useful / relevant was the Enterprise Support Service provided by South Kerry Development Partnership
• What can we learn from the experiences of these small businesses – current market place role of South Kerry Development Partnership
Methodology
Telephone Survey
254 enterprises contacted in total
159 completed surveys
Response rate = 63%
Non-respondents
• Non-contactable: Each enterprise called 3 times before being declared ‘non-respondent’
• Declined to participate
Gender
Male82%
Female18%
Gender Profile of Survey Respondents n=159
Year Back to Work Enterprise Allowance received?
2008 2009 2010
20
40
60
6%
35%
59%
n=159
Short-term Allowance or Long Term Allowance?
Short-Term19%
Long-Term81%
n=159
Are you still trading?
Yes78%
No22%
Are you still trading? n=159
Business Sectors• Arts
• Mechanics• Construction / Trades• Environmental Services• Professional Services• Food & Catering• Hair & Beauty• Healthcare
• Manufacturing• Retail
• Transport• Alternative Therapies• Alternative Energies
• Equine• Fish Farming• Entertainment• Tourism
In last year of trading, was your annual turnover…
Under €10,000 Between €10,000 and €20,000
Between €20,001 and €30,000
Over €30,000
20
40
60
59%
21%12%
8%
Turnover in last year of trading. n= 159
Staff Employed?
Yes10%
No90%
Number of Staff Employed?
• 11 businesses employ 1 staff member each
• 4 businesses employ 2 staff members each
• 1 business employs 19 staff members
• Mixtures of part-time and full time staff
How is your business doing today?
Struggling a lot Struggling a little Getting by Performing reasonably well
Performing extremely well
10%
28%
48%
10%
3%
Responses from businesses still trading (124 in total)
Perception of business sector?
Declining Stagnant Growing
10
20
30
40
50
36%
48%
16%
Perception of Business Sector n=124
Critical factors for a successful business
Factor Ranking
Accessing finance for day to day activities 1
Having relevant knowledge about the sector 2
Having prior experience 3
Having sufficient sales/income to cover costs 4
Having relevant enterprise training 5
Cost of supplies/materials 6
Finding time to develop a strategy for our enterprise 7
Sourcing good suppliers 8
Accessing finance for capital expenditure 9
Recruiting the right employees 10
Dealing with bureaucracy/paperwork 11
Do you plan to expand your business in the next two years? N=124
Yes40%
No56%
Do not know5%
Reasons for planning to expand?
• Believe business is working
• Demand for business
• Optimise growth and income opportunities
Reasons why not?
• Not enough demand
• Lack of investment income
Have you received support in these areas?
Support Received No of Respondents %Developing a Business Plan 122 98
Accessing Capital Finance 36 29
Applying for BTWEA 121 98Enterprise Training Finance 4 3General advice and information about setting up a business 121 98Mentor Support 121 98
Rating of how useful support was?
Developing a business
plan
Accessi
ng capita
l finance
Applying for t
he back to
work enterp
rise allo
wances
Training finances
General advice
and inform
ation about setting up a busin
ess
Mentor s
upports0
20
40
60
80
100
100%
20%
100%
6%
100% 97%
0%
80%
0%
94%
0% 3%
not applicablenot at all usefula little usefulextremely useful
Are there other areas you would have liked to have received support in?
Yes28%
No72%
N = 124
Areas for further support mentioned
• As business is being set up
– More grants (accessing finance)– More 1-2-1 support– Regular mentoring support– Advertising and insurance help
Areas of support required now?
Yes52%
No48%
Those still in business. N=124
Supports required now mentioned (those still in business)
• Accessing finance and grants• Advertising support• Mentoring• Help with Accounts, tax etc• Extension of scheme
Businesses no longer in Operation
Approximately how many months were you trading?
5 Months 7 Months 9 Months 12 Months 15 Months 16 Months 18 Months 21 Months 24 Months 36 Months
10
20
30
40
50
3% 3%6%
9% 9%
3%
20%
3%
43%
3%
Approximately how many months were you trading? Total businesses no longer in operation = 35
Reasons for no longer trading
• No demand
• Economic downturn
• Personal reasons
• High operating costs
Are there any supports that you feel would have helped your business to succeed if you’d been able to access them?
Yes No Do not know
20
40
60
80
26%
71%
3%
Total = 35
Current employment status
Employed full-time Employed part-time Unemployed Self Employed Full-time education/training
20
40
60
80
9%17%
66%
6%3%
What is your current employment status? Total = 35
Would you consider self-employment again?
Yes77%
No23%
Would you consider self-employment again? Total = 35
Concluding Points
• Findings are positive
• Over three-quaters still in business – Despite recession
• Knowing your sector is critical to the success of the business
• Access to finance for day-to-day activities is critical
• Reasons for no longer trading – no demand or economic downturn
• 77% would go back into self employment
• Majority of respondents found support from South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd to be extremely useful
• Further/ongoing support in relation to accessing finance/managing accounts and liaising with enterprise officer and mentor identified as important