The municipality is undertaking a Business Retention + Expansion survey, focusing on employers in the Professional Services sector, as well as remote workers and operators of Home-Based Businesses.
Start the survey HERE.
WHAT IS A BR+E?
A BR+E is a tool municipalities can use to do a 'temperature check' on a specific sector, to better understand opportunities and challenges. This year, the municipality is working with Farrell Insights and the PEC Chamber of Commerce to conduct an online survey (July-August), followed by a series of networking focus groups (September).
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'PROFESSIONAL SERVICES?'
Professional services involveContinue reading
The municipality is undertaking a Business Retention + Expansion survey, focusing on employers in the Professional Services sector, as well as remote workers and operators of Home-Based Businesses.
Start the survey HERE.
WHAT IS A BR+E?
A BR+E is a tool municipalities can use to do a 'temperature check' on a specific sector, to better understand opportunities and challenges. This year, the municipality is working with Farrell Insights and the PEC Chamber of Commerce to conduct an online survey (July-August), followed by a series of networking focus groups (September).
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'PROFESSIONAL SERVICES?'
Professional services involve the provision of specialized expertise, skills, and knowledge to clients, rather than the sale or manufacture of physical products. Examples include legal advice, financial planning, consulting, veterinary services, real estate, graphic design, IT support and health services like physiotherapy, massage or audiology,.
WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS DOES IT COVER?
We're hoping to understand your outlook - is your sector growing? Declining? Are you hiring? Having trouble with recruiting or retention? Is there a specific barrier that's preventing you from taking your business to the next level? We also ask about your satisfaction with various government and community services or amenities, and your view on Prince Edward County as a place to do business.
HOW LONG WILL THE SURVEY TAKE?
About 15 minutes - and we'll enter you into a draw for a $250 gift certificate (to the local business of your choice!) if you complete it!
ARE MY RESPONSES CONFIDENTIAL?
YES. We aggregate the data so that operators cannot be identified.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE?
We do our best to act on it. In 2023, we did a sector-wide BR+E that turned up issues with transit, taxi service and questions around how the Municipal Accommodation Tax is spent. We've since added a transit coordinator, retooled summer service, are undertaking a taxi by-law review and will be conducting consultations on MAT spending.
In 2024, we conducted a BR+E survey with Construction & Skilled Trades employers and heard frustration with finding suitable placements for trainees, a lack of upskilling to Red Seal status, a scarcity of local options for apprenticeships and in-classroom learning, and challenges with municipal processes and communications around planning applications. The municipality is currently reviewing how applications from residents, businesses and developers move through Development Services and Economic Development.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN A FOCUS GROUP?
Please fill out the survey and check the box for "I'd like to participate in a focus group." You can also email kpalmer@pecounty.on.ca. (Be warned: I'll still try and wrangle some online survey responses from you!)
Click here to start the survey
