Business Survey 2026: Results

A questionnaire was sent to all businesses in Stratford District on the Business Rates Register in March, and businesses not on the Business Rates Register were also invited to respond. We received 455 responses, which have now ben analysed. The results can be read in full in our SDC Business Survey 2026 Report.

63% businesses rated the District 'good' or 'very good' as a place to do business. This is an improvement on 2023, up by 6 percentage points. Many respondents pointed to the District's great customer base and its central location at the heart of a good transport network as the main reasons for this.

However, rising costs, including rates, were a significant worry for many businesses.

60% businesses that responded were independent-owned and run, of which approximately one third were based in Stratford-upon-Avon. The majority of respondents had been in business for 11 years or more.

Previous Business Surveys

The Business Survey has been a constant since 2002 and in this case the report covers comparisons going back ten years to 2013. A mailing of questionnaires went out to 3,556 businesses on the Business Rates address database towards the end of October 2023, with a reminder sent at the end of November 2023 to those who had not responded. The survey was also promoted, via various channels, to obtain feedback from those businesses not on the Business Rates register. 722 were completed, including 110 who took up the opportunity to complete the questionnaire online. 210 questionnaires were returned to SDC by the Royal Mail not delivered, i.e., not known at this address, gone away, no longer a business, not accessible etc. A true response rate is not possible, as the survey was made available to all and not just those on the business rates register sample.

Read the results of the survey in the Business Survey 2023 Results Report.