Lorna Carver, Director, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Published: April 16, 2020 | Updated: 16th April 2020
Businesses battling for survival in these ‘unprecedented’ times are being urged to take part in a county-wide impact survey.
Dorset Gateway, the business support function of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is seeking input from businesses of all sizes.
It is also calling on the self-employed, as well as charities in Dorset, to outline the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on their operations.
The aggregated results of the survey will be shared with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
They will be used to inform current and future Covid-19 business support measures, nationally and locally.
All data will be anonymised.
The survey can be found here.
Lorna Carver, Director of Dorset LEP, said information provided in real-time would be “invaluable” in better understanding the picture across the county.
She added: “The sooner businesses are able to take part, the better.
“From responses so far we know that 85 per cent of businesses are facing major disruption. Cashflow is also coming up frequently as an issue.”
Dorset Gateway – working with Dorset Chamber – has been handling a significant increase in the number of enquiries from businesses, business owners and the self-employed in response to the coronavirus crisis.
On one day alone there were 1.5 times more enquiries than would usually be received in a month.
The free service can help businesses understand and access the different packages of government support available.
Dorset LEP has doubled the number of people handling calls and enquiries – from two to four.
The private sector-led organisation is also hoping for extra government funding to further enhance the service, headed by Finn Morgan, Dorset Gateway Manager, pictured left.
Lorna said: “We want to make sure that businesses, their employees and the self-employed, have access to the full range of information and support on offer to help them.
“My advice to businesses in these unprecedented times is to seek support and advice.
“Please ask for help.”
Key info for Dorset Gateway:
