Business survey

Introduction

A business survey was undertaken across the study area to better understand the thoughts of the business community on the potential benefits and impacts of the introduction of the station. The study area was developed to be consistent with the resident survey, so CATI based interviews were also used to complete the fieldwork.

Respondent Profile

In total, 100 businesses completed the survey. The businesses were asked to provide the first five digits of their postcode (the postcode sector) with the locations shown in Figure 3. The largest proportion of the businesses who took part were located in the postcode sector TD15 1, which is situated in the south east of the study area. There were also between 16 and 25 business responses from the postcode sector TD14 5, which includes Reston and Eyemouth, and TD11 3, which includes Duns.

It should be noted that eight respondents indicated that the location stated, and shown on the map, was not their principal business location. However, in all such instances the principal business location was within the same general area.

Just over a third (36%, n=36) of the respondents noted that they had other business premises elsewhere in the UK. Of these, 26 were based in the Scottish Borders and East Lothian, with the other 10 located elsewhere in the UK. Among the 26 businesses based across the Scottish Borders and East Lothian, four businesses were located in Berwickshire, three in Edinburgh and two in Kelso. Several respondents noted that they had premises in several locations across the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and Edinburgh.

Respondents were asked to note what the primary activity was of their business. As shown in Figure 4, the largest proportion of respondents (21%, n=21) noted that their business was in ‘accommodation and food service activities’. This was followed by 20% (n=20) being in the ‘wholesale and retail trade’; ‘repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles’, 11% (n=11) in ‘human health and social work’ and 10% (n=10) in an ‘other’ sector. Generally, the businesses that responded to the survey spanned a wide range of business activities and sectors.

Finally, respondents were asked to describe their role in the organisation. Around a third (35%, n=35) indicated that they were the owner of the business; eight percent (n=8) noted that they were a ‘Partner’ in the business; six percent (n=6) indicated that they were a ‘Director’; and another 35% (n=35) were managers. The other respondents worked across admin, customer experience and finance.