Banff and Macduff Business Survey

We asked

To support businesses, whether new, existing, or start-ups, high street, out of town or virtual, Aberdeenshire Council’s Economic Development department invited Banff and Macduff area businesses to provide their thoughts regarding the concept of establishing a business network, forum, or group tailored to the needs of businesses in Banff and Macduff. To gather this information a survey was open on EngageHQ from 10 January to 31 January 2024.

After the dissolution of the previous business group, this intervention was identified to actively engage with the business community and support the progress of establishing a new mechanism.

Given the diversity among businesses and sectors, it was acknowledged that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable. The aim was to gauge the interest and demand for a mechanism that facilitates, at the very least, the exchange of ideas, information, events, training opportunities, and potentially even the creation of a formal group.

We also asked respondents some general ‘how’s business’ questions to provide an understanding of the business environment in both towns to help influence future support and projects led by the council’s Place Economy Team, Enterprising Aberdeenshire and Business Gateway and the potential new business group.

You said

There was a total of 32 responses. The responses and comments received were wide ranging, however; the majority of responses were positive and supportive of a new ‘mechanism’ to allow businesses to engage, network and help support the economies of the two towns of Banff and Macduff.

54.8% of respondents would be keen to participate/support the new initiative. The top three areas of support required are access to funding, town centre development, and community and public events. The preference is for evening meetings and events for a business group with the focus of the group’s activity to be on:

• Advertising and Marketing Support
• Funding, grants, sponsorship, shop front grants, business start-up/pop-up business grants
• Local networking opportunities, forum, newsletter
• Prevent duplication of effort
• Get vacant properties back into use, some owners not interested in doing anything with them
• Parking, parking enforcement, 45-minute bays, new car park for Macduff
• Disconnected Community, local politics
• Reducing Footfall, other towns appear more successful i.e. Turriff and Inverurie
• Tourism: maps, Tourist Office, dog friendly status, free water tap

We will

All the feedback has been provided to the elected members for the Banff and Macduff area, shared with the business community of the two towns and internally within the council with relevant services including Place & Economy, Enterprising Aberdeenshire and the Area Management Team. The data will be used to shape future business support programmes and initiatives to benefit the economy of the local area.

The full report can be found here.