7 May 2026
More than 1,500 businesses will be invited to help shape the region’s future economic priorities, as the South Midlands Authorities launch the 8th edition of the South Midlands Business Survey.
The Business Survey will capture vital insight from firms of all sizes to understand their economic challenges, growth barriers, skills needs, and support requirements, to drive economic growth.
As one of the UK’s most economically significant regions, the South Midlands contributes over £50 billion to the UK economy each year. For over a decade, the Business Survey has played a crucial role in shaping regional priorities and informing the design and delivery of business support. The influential Growth Curve programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, delivered university-led training, one-to-one support and access to funding to over 300 organisations, and was directly developed based on feedback collected in the 2021 survey.
Cllr Jim Weir, Deputy Mayor of Bedford Borough Council and South Midlands Authorities Co-Chair, said: “The long-term nature of this survey is important for observing trends in how the local economy has changed over time. As a region, economic output has grown by over 10% in the past decade, and the information derived from previous Business Surveys has played a key role in driving this growth.
“The South Midlands Business Survey will help to determine regional economic development priorities and enable the South Midlands Authorities to undertake activities that drive economic growth and the creation of jobs in our region.”
Public Perspectives Ltd, an independent market research provider, will conduct the survey. It will be conducted from May 2026 to July 2026, contacting a representative sample of businesses across the region.
For further information contact Marketing & Communications Lead, Patrick Kitson at patrick.kitson@southmidlands.org.uk
