Firms in the PO postcode are asked: What do you want to see happen in the next year?

Mike Sellers, the chair of the Portsmouth & District Business Strategy Group, who is also the director of Portsmouth International Port. Picture by Ben Mitchell/PA Wire

The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, through the Portsmouth & District Business Strategy Group, has launched its annual business survey for the second year.

The group is made up of Portsmouth business people and they want to ensure that not only chamber members, but the views of the whole business community are represented.

Mike Sellers, chairman of the group, said it was crucial to hear from companies if they are to take action on their behalf.

Mark Baulch, from the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

He said: ‘We had an incredibly positive response to the survey in 2018, where the top three areas of concern were identified as regeneration, skills, and business vision, so we have been focusing on these areas this past year.

‘Feedback has enabled us to work in an informed manner and to develop strategies.

‘To help us with this, a number of additional group members have joined and some sub-groups have been formed.

‘A business vision is forming and will be published later this year.

‘Together with EBP South, we continue to work on the STEM agenda and Shaping Portsmouth have recently completed their own skills survey which the chamber will be analysing.

‘We have also run a number of joint events to widen the reach of businesses.

‘In this way, we have begun the process of responding to the concerns of the companies across the area and more work will be evident as this year progresses.’

The chamber is in discussions with Portsmouth City Council, Shaping Portsmouth, University of Portsmouth and other local partners and stakeholders.

They will be using the results of this second survey to create a further business support strategy for this year.

Mark Baulch, head of policy and representation for the chamber, said: ‘I would urge local businesses to take the opportunity to engage with this opportunity to inform local decision makers, like them, of their needs and aspirations during a time of challenge and change.

‘There are some exciting plans ahead for the city and the district and this is their opportunity to help to influence the direction of these.’

The survey can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/JXP78SD until June 7.