Fylde firms urged to take part in economic survey

The Phoenix Project, developed by a team of researchers from the University of Central Lancashire, will collate responses in a report that will share best practice examples and inform policymakers how to make business support programmes more effective.

The online survey compares turnover, focus on online business, working patterns, staffing changes and productivity levels before and during the pandemic.

Professor Philip Whyman and Dr Alina Petrescu, from UCLan’s Lancashire Institute for Economic and Business Research, are leading the economics-based research project.

Professor Whyman said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for businesses and we want to know how has it affected different businesses and sectors?

"How have businesses responded to the challenges? What barriers continue to frustrate resilience and recovery? What can policymakers do to support businesses and the business community?

“This is a business research project aimed at improving the current understanding of business resilience and economic growth, via expert, science-based managerial and economics knowledge.”

Research already done has provided evidence to feed into a number of policy and practice-based activities including Parliamentary Select Committees, the United Nation’s response to supporting SMEs through disasters such as COVID-19, State of the Nation work in the creative sectors, and informing future business support for SMEs.

The survey is open until Wednesday, March 30, and one responder will be chosen at random to receive a £200 M&S voucher.