1406 Tandridge Economic Development Business Study
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Tandridge Economic Dev e l o p m e n t & Bus i n e s s Study R eport on Research Findings June 2014 Prepared by: Matthews Associates & TSE Research Registered in England No. 01345038 Registered office: 40 Chamberlayne Road Eastleigh Hampshire Tel: +44 (0) 23 80625459 VAT Registration No. GB 190 0026 08 TSE Research is a member of the Market Research Society Partner Scheme and our fieldwork is accredited by the Interviewer Quality Standards Scheme Member Company Registered under the Data Protection Act - Registration No. Z8594703 1 CONT E NT S 1! INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 4! 1.1! Study background and aims ........................................................... 4! 1.2! Issues Summary ............................................................................. 5! 2! BACKGROUND OF THE TANDRIDGE ECONOMY ................................. 6! 2.2! The Economy and Gross Value Added (GVA) ............................... 6! 2.3! Competitiveness ............................................................................. 7! 2.4! Business Start-up data ................................................................... 8! 2.5! Unemployment ............................................................................... 8! 2.6! Comparison with Mid-1990’s .......................................................... 9! 2.7! Smart Economic Growth............................................................... 10! 2.8! Smart Growth in Tandridge .......................................................... 11! 3! BUSINESS AUDIT - SUMMARY & OPTIONS ......................................... 13! 3.1! Business Audit .............................................................................. 13! 4! BUSINESS SURVEY - SUMMARY & OPTIONS ..................................... 15! 4.1! Business Survey ........................................................................... 15! 5! LOCAL ISSUES & OPTIONS ................................................................... 18! 5.2! Gasholder Oxted ........................................................................ 20! 5.3! Lambs Business Park ................................................................. 22! 5.4! Hobbs Industrial Estate .............................................................. 23! 5.5! Other sites within Tandridge ......................................................... 25! 5.6! Town Centres ............................................................................... 25! 5.7! Managed Towns & Business Improvement Districts .................... 27! 5.8! Caterham Digital Hub ................................................................... 30! 5.9! Business Support & Engagement ................................................ 30! 5.10! Review of Public Assets ............................................................... 32! 5.11! Rural Economy ............................................................................. 32! 5.12! Visitor Economy............................................................................ 33! 5.13! Capacity for Economic Development ........................................... 34! 6! STRATEGIC ISSUES & OPTIONS .......................................................... 35! 6.2! Local Enterprise Partnerships ...................................................... 35! 6.3! Gatwick Diamond Initiative ........................................................... 42! 6.4! Gatwick Airport Second Runway .................................................. 43! 6.5! East Surrey District’s & Boroughs ................................................ 45! 7! AUDIT & SURVEY INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 46! 7.1! Study background and aims ......................................................... 46! 7.2! Methodology ................................................................................. 46! 7.3! Outline of report ............................................................................ 51! 8! BUSINESS AUDIT .................................................................................... 52! 8.1! Business overview ........................................................................ 52! 8.2! Spatial distribution of businesses ................................................. 53! 8.3! Relative size of each sector ......................................................... 54! 8.4! Accommodation & Food Service Activities ................................... 55! 8.5! Administrative & Support Service Activities .................................. 56! 8.6! Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing ..................................................... 57! 2 8.7! Arts, Entertainment & Recreation ................................................. 57! 8.8! Construction ................................................................................. 58! 8.9! Education ..................................................................................... 59! 8.10! Electricity, Gas, Steam & Air Conditioning Supply ....................... 60! 8.11! Financial & Insurance Activities .................................................... 60! 8.12! Human Health & Social Work Activities ........................................ 61! 8.13! Information & Communication ...................................................... 61! 8.14! Manufacturing ............................................................................... 62! 8.15! Mining & Quarrying ....................................................................... 64! 8.16! Other Service Activities ................................................................ 64! 8.17! Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities .............................. 65! 8.18! Public Administration & Defence .................................................. 66! 8.19! Real Estate ................................................................................... 67! 8.20! Transportation & Storage ............................................................. 67! 8.21! Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management & Remedial Activities .. 68! 8.22! Wholesale and retail trade, including motor trade ........................ 68! 8.23! Rural based businesses ............................................................... 70! 9! BUSINESS SURVEY ................................................................................ 71! 9.1! Introduction ................................................................................... 71! 9.2! Business structure ........................................................................ 71! 9.3! Number of staff ............................................................................. 73! 9.4! Age of business ............................................................................ 74! 9.5! VAT status .................................................................................... 75! 9.6! Transport used by staff ................................................................. 76! 9.7! Advantages and disadvantages to trading in Tandridge .............. 78! 9.8! Market reach ................................................................................. 79! 9.9! Sales channels ............................................................................. 81! 9.10! Use of digital communication ....................................................... 82! 9.11! Broadband speed & provision ...................................................... 83! 9.12! Business performance .................................................................. 84! 9.13! Reasons behind performance increase/decrease ........................ 87! 9.14! Barriers limiting business growth .................................................. 88! 9.15! Use of business support or advice ............................................... 93! 9.16! Preferred location if relocated ...................................................... 95! 10! VISITOR ECONOMY ................................................................................ 96! 10.1! Introduction ................................................................................... 96! 10.2! Volume and value of tourism ........................................................ 96! 10.3! Key tourism markets ..................................................................... 97! 10.4! Share of tourism market ............................................................... 98! 10.5! Key attractions within Tandridge .................................................. 99! 3 1 IN T R O D U CTI O N 1.1 Study background and aims 1.1.1 In October 2013, the Tandridge District Council Resources Committee agreed that work be commissioned, supported by the economic development reserve, to establish the key economic issues in Tandridge, including the economic-base within the district, and to develop a strategic approach to economic growth. 1.1.2 This work would enable the Council to safeguard the district’s future prosperity and contribute toward Council’s key corporate priority To work with local businesses to promote economic growth and employment. 1.1.3 As part of this work, Matthews Associates working in partnership with TSE Research were commissioned to establish the economic base within the district, identify the key economic issues and support the Council in developing a strategic approach to economic growth. This report is structured as follows: • Background of the wider Tandridge economy • Summary and options from the business audit • Summary and options from the business