BUSINESSES are being urged to take part in an ambitious online survey which could ultimately become an influential ‘tool’ in bringing about a significant boost to the island’s economy.
The survey is being conducted by Research Offshore on behalf of Action Mann, an organisation established in the island by the Isle of Man LinkedIn group to support Manx business and the local economy.
The detailed survey, which is being publicised to Isle of Man businesses via social media and email, will not only seek to discover the key concerns for 2013 along with predictions for the Isle of Man economy but will also ask: Does your company currently lose business to off-island providers?
If the answer is ‘Yes’ the company is then asked to give reasons why they believe that to be the case.
‘It may be quality of service, availability, price or a combination of all three,’ said Steve Burrows, spokesman for an organisation whose basic ethos is to promote and encourage island businesses to work with each other and keep revenues on island.
‘There are significant benefits to the island’s economy in supporting local trade but all too often a company is unaware that there is an on-island business that can supply what is required so are then turning to a UK-based supplier,’ he added.
‘The reality seems to be that it is all too often difficult to know who on the island can provide the specific needs of another company which is why too many companies source from across,’ said Mr Burrows.
‘Informal discussions with many companies indicate that more could be done to promote on-island sourcing and procurement and it is here that the Government has an important role to play.’
Mr Burrows, a director of several companies in the island and who was previously a director of a group of companies in the UK, set up the LinkedIn Isle of Man group in 2008 which has grown to more than 2,000 members.
‘The survey, in seeking the views of the business community on the challenges they face along with their predictions for the future, can be used as a tool to inform and influence government,’ he said.
http://www.researchoffshore.com/surveys/action-mann/