Having reached the half way stage – 2.5 years into the first term of our business improvement district and 2.5 years before the next ballot – the Better Bankside board commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake research to establish the levels of awareness and approval of our services amongst local employers and employees.

 

“One of the most important things for us to know” said Peter Williams Better Bankside CEO, “is that our businesses value the services we provide”.

 

Getting that feedback though isn’t straightforward. We have worked hard at involving businesses in the decision making process at board and theme group level. The Ipsos MORI survey extended this principle and directly sought the views of a range of businesses (51) through telephone interviews and a focus group. In addition over 300 employees were interviewed in the street.

 

Generally what emerged was that where there is awareness of a service it is usually endorsed, but more needs to be done in terms of communicating what is being done. A full report of the results can be seen here.