In March 2023, key issues being raised by Buckinghamshire businesses included:
- High energy costs
- Recruitment difficulties
- Poor public transport links (insufficient bus services in particular) exacerbating recruitment difficulties
- Some manufacturers hesitating to invest due to economic uncertainty and increases in costs (including increases in business rates)
- Increased interest in opportunities within the electric vehicle supply chain
The above issues were highlighted to BBF by local businesses. BBF use this 'on-the-ground' intelligence to inform local business support activity, and share it with central government on a monthly basis to inform national strategy.
