In October 2023, key issues raised by Buckinghamshire businesses included:
- Pub opening hours - some pubs/bars are opting to close on Mondays and Tuesdays to reduce overheads and staffing costs on traditionally quieter days.
- Insolvencies - insolvencies are on the rise nationally. Locally, insolvencies have been particularly evident within the construction, retail and hospitality sectors.
- Actor strike - the affect of the strike is being felt across many service sectors that support the TV and film industry.
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.
