Survey seeks to gain regional insight

A team has started interviewing the senior executives and directors of 400 companies from large corporates to the small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of Yorkshire's economy.

The region-wide survey will gauge opinions on the key issues affecting business, including trading conditions, employee skills, product and service innovation, legislation, transport, public spending cuts and the impact of the new coalition government. Peter Charlton, Editor of the Yorkshire Post, said: "This research will provide an invaluable insight into the hopes and fears of the business people who play such an important role in the life of this region.

"It will take the pulse of our economy at a time of impending public spending cuts when all eyes will be on Yorkshire's private sector to lead the UK's recovery."

The Yorkshire Post is working in partnership with Irwin Mitchell, the law firm, and the research arm of Brahm, the Leeds-based marketing agency.

David Knaggs, regional managing partner of the Leeds office of Irwin Mitchell, said: "Irwin Mitchell is a national company with its head office in the Yorkshire region.

"As a major professional services employer and independent private business, it is important for us to understand the current opinions and needs of other businesses post election and during the forthcoming period of constraints.

"We are being required to respond to many varied changes and demands both politically and economically.

"We see the business survey as giving a voice and a potential lobbying tool to businesses in the region."

Malcolm Cowing, managing partner of Brahm, said: "This is a real chance for Yorkshire and Humberside business leaders to express their views on the election result and explore what they make of the new coalition government and its agenda, and how they think their own business prospects are going to be affected."

"The future role of bodies like Yorkshire Forward, Business Link and the new city regions will also be explored.

"This research will provide a significant benchmark of leading business opinion following the election and what the future holds for the region's business sector."

If any senior executives or directors would like to add their voices to the survey, they are invited to send their contact details to [email protected] and a member of the research team will be in touch.

The survey is being conducted in line with the Market Research Society's code of conduct .