Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership Strategic Assessment Survey 27-30 - Page 1 of 3 - Ards and North Down Borough Council

1. Business name:

(Required)

2. Your full name:

(Required)

3. Your email address:

(Required)

4. Your position within the business:

(Required)

5. What industry/sector is the business in? If you operate across multiple sectors, please select the most relevant.

(Required)

Other:

6. Where is the business located? If you have more than one location, please select where your main operations are located within the Ards and North Down Area.

(Required)

Other:

7. How many employees work for the business?

Please select one answer: (Required)

8. Have you hired/tried to hire new employees within the previous 12 months? (If you answered No please go to Q10.)

(Required) Yes No

If yes explain in the box below how many new employees you have hired, or how many vacancies you have had, within the previous 12 months:

9. How easy or difficult was it to attract / find new employees?

Very difficult, almost impossible Challenging at times, but not too bad Easy and straightforward

If you found it very difficult or challenging please explain why you think it is difficult to attract/ find new employees:

10. Do you intend to hire new employees in the next 12 months? (If you answered No please go to question 14.)

Yes No

How many new employees do you intend to hire in the next 12 months and for what jobs?

11. For the vacancies you have, what skill level is needed?

Entry Level e.g., school leaver, admin, operative, manual worker. Minimum qualifications required. Semi-Skilled e.g., sales, drivers, security. Some qualifications and/or licences required. Skilled e.g., engineer, trades, nurse. Qualifications required. Managerial e.g., project managers, marketing managers, HR managers. Supervisory level and above. Specialist e.g., highly skilled roles requiring specialist qualifications, training, and/or experience

12. How do you advertise and/or promote your vacancies? Please select all that apply.

On an online jobs board, e.g., JobApplyNI, NIJobs, NIJobFinder, etc. Via social media (paid or organic) Via word of mouth and/or employee referrals In magazines or newspapers On the radio Using a recruitment agency At a Job Fair or similar event Other- please detail below

Other:

13. Which of the following types of skills/employees do you think you might need in the next 12 months?

Technical e.g., Technicians, Operatives. Human Resources. Sales and Marketing. Social Media and Content Creation. Finance, e.g., Accountant, Financial Controller. General Administration. Hospitality e.g., Chef, Bartender. Health & Social Care e.g., Healthcare Assistant, Domiciliary Carer. Driving, e.g., HGV Driver, Forklift Driver, Taxi Driver. Warehousing/Distribution. Digital and Data Customer Service Other

Other

14. Would you be interested in any of the following:

Sourcing new employees through a Skills Academy; participants complete a training programme and/or qualification to gain work-ready skills. Sourcing new employees through a Skills Academy to support individuals with a disability into employment. Sourcing new employees through a Skills Academy for ‘returners’; individuals who have been out of the workforce for a period of time, often due to caring for children, elderly parents, or other dependents. A Rapid Response Course to upskill or reskill current employees with new, in demand skills or qualifications. Development Courses to support current employees to gain a promotion or take on a new role through skill development, often so the business can back-fill a more entry level role. Other

15. Do you offer any of the following working conditions?

(Required) Flexible working Hybrid shifts Fully Remote working Evening/Twilight shifts Shifts during school hours Part time shifts- early, day evening Other

Other:

16. Have you ever engaged with an organisation or programme that:

(Required) Offers Apprenticeships or Traineeships Matches employers with unemployed persons to find work through 'steps to work' or work experience programmes/ Job Start programme Supports individuals with a disability to gain work experience and/or employment Runs an 'Academy' or training course to provide participants with relevant industry qualifications to help them find employment None of the above

17. Have you previously heard of the Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership? (If you answered No or unsure please go to question 19.)

(Required) Yes No Unsure

18. How did you hear about it?

From a Council Officer Word of mouth At an event On social media Other

Other:

19. Have you previously engaged with the Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership?

Yes No Not sure

If yes please explain in the box how you engaged with the Labour Market Partnership e.g through a programme, job fair or grant scheme:

20. Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership supports residents to develop work-ready skills, experience, and qualifications to enter employment or progress in their careers. It also works with local employers to deliver targeted programmes that address recruitment and skills gaps, such as academies, job fairs, apprenticeships, and upskilling grants. How could the Partnership support your business with recruitment and/or skills needs?

(Required)

21. Are you aware of the Employer-Led Upskilling Programme, which offers grants of up to £500 per employee, for up to four employees per business, to support workplace training in Ards and North Down Borough?

(Required) Yes No

If you are not aware would you like to be sent more information on this scheme?

22. Do you have any other comments in relation to this survey?

(Required)

23. Would you like a member of the Council's Economic Development Team to follow-up with you in relation to how the Labour Market Partnership could support your business?

(Required) Yes No

24. Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership and Ards and North Down Borough Council takes your right to personal privacy seriously. This information is collected and processed with your consent and will be shared with the consultant who is undertaking the evaluation and assessment of the Ards and North Down Labour Market Partnership Strategic Assessment 2027-2030. Please confirm, by ticking below, that you give consent for the Council to contact you should they have any further questions regarding the information you provided. You retain the right to withdraw your consent and can do so at any time by contacting LMP@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk. You have a right to see and review the information held on you. If you wish to request your personal information or have a data protection query, please put your request in writing, stating clearly who you are and your query to: Data Protection Officer, Ards and North Down Borough Council, City Hall, The Castle, Bangor, BT20 4BT, email: dataprotection@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, Telephone: 0300 013 3333 or visit the Council’s website at www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk Please tick here to confirm your consent:

(Required) Yes No