Ards and North Down Business Support Survey 2025/26 - Page 1 of 3 - Ards and North Down Borough Council

Page 1 of 3

Business Survey 2025/26

1. Structure of your Business Enterprise (Select one)

(Required) Not yet established Sole Trader Partnership Limited Social Enterprise/Community Interest Company Other

Other:

2. What best describes your Business Enterprise ambition (select one only)

(Required) I am thinking about starting a business I have recently started a business within the last 12 months. I am an existing business enterprise owner or director trading for more than 12 months, with an ambition to grow and employ more staff.

3. How long has your business been trading?

(Required) Not yet established <1 year 1-5 years 5-10 years 10+ years

4. Current Size of your Business Enterprise (select one only)

(Required) Not yet established 1-9 employees 10-49 employees 50-249 employees 250+ employees

5. Operating Sector for your Business Enterprise (Select one only)

(Required) Retail/Wholesale Professional Services Agri-Food Cyber Security Consultancy Manufacturing Construction Hospitality/Leisure/Food/Catering Agricultural/Forestry/Fishing Transport / Distribution Fitness, Health & Wellbeing Creative Industries - Arts/Crafts/Design Creative Industries - Software/IT/Digital Media Green & Renewable Energy Other (please specify below)

Other

6. What aspect of your organisation development is important to you right now? (with 5 being very important, and 1 being not important at all).

(Required)

Other (please provide details):

7. Please rate the following delivery methods of business support on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most preferred, and 1 being the least preferred).

(Required)

8. Are you aware of the following business support programmes? (select one of the following 3 choices)

(Required)

9. What is your preferred method of receiving communications relating to business support?

(Required) AND Business website AND Business email newsletter Social media Outdoor marketing – billboards etc Local events/workshops Word of mouth Council Officer Business network Other (please provide details)

Other:

10. Which of the following types of support would be useful for your business? (please rate on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being not useful, and 5 being very useful)

(Required)

Other (please provide details):

11. Are there any barriers that prevent you from accessing council’s business support? Such as: time commitment (e.g. duration of events), scheduling (e.g. time of day), awareness of available support.

(Required)

12. Please tell us about the main challenges your business faces, and any barriers affecting the growth of your business.

(Required)

13. Have you encountered any challenges in finding suitable business premises in Ards and North Down? Please provide details.

(Required)

14. What kind of business premises do you think is needed in Ards and North Down? (type, size)

Office space Light industry Manufacturing space Flexible workspace

Other

0-1,000 sq. ft. 4,000-6000 sq. ft. 6,000-10,000 sq. ft. 10,000-15,000 sq. ft. 15,000-20,000 sq. ft. 20,000+ sq. ft.

Location in Borough

Please explain why you think this accommodation is needed.

15. Does your business offer Apprenticeships?

(Required) Yes No

If yes, at what level?

If you answered no, would you like to be contacted to explore the apprenticeship opportunities available? (if so please provide your name, email and telephone in the box below)

Contact details

16. Do you have any other comments or suggestions about how Ards and North Down Borough Council could better support your business?

We appreciate your comments and views.

If you are already a registered client with us you will continue to be updated on our range of business support services. If you are not registered you can do so here.