Brighouse BID captures state of the town’s businesses

Businesses across Brighouse are optimistic about the future but realistic about the challenges they face, according to a survey carried out by the town’s Business Improvement District (BID).

The Brighouse BID, which launched in 2019, represents all businesses in the town centre – from shops to cafes, offices to bars – who are automatically members of the organisation, with voluntary membership also open to those outside the town centre boundary.

With global economic challenges, national political drama and investment in town locally, the BID asked a series of questions to try and capture the state of Brighouse business as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and plans for Christmas and beyond.

A range of businesses, collectively employing over 250 people, responded and among the findings:

• Over half (52 per cent) said they were worried about the future of their business with 35 per cent saying they were confident about what comes next.
• The two biggest challenges faced were the cost of energy (chosen by 69 per cent) and reduced spending power for customers (chosen by 72 per cent). The impact of rising inflation (62 per cent) and problem of finding employees with the right skills (41 per cent) were also highlighted.

• Ahead of the Government’s Autumn Statement on 17 November, Brighouse businesses are calling for caps on energy prices (chosen by 66 per cent), cuts in VAT (48 per cent), corporation tax cuts (35 per cent) and support grants (35 per cent) as their priorities.

• Despite the issues being faced, there is optimism for the future with nearly half (45 per cent) saying they expect their business to grow in the next year and one in five (21 per cent) saying they expect to employ more people.

• Two-thirds (66 per cent) say that Brighouse is moving in the right direction with 69 per cent of those asked saying that being based in the town is a positive for their business, showing the importance of the investment being made in the town centre.

Lesley Adams, co-chair of the Brighouse BID and owner of Simply Flowers on Commercial Street, said: “This survey captures the optimism there is among businesses across Brighouse but also the huge challenges we are facing, and the uncertainty about what will happen next.

“It is a huge positive that so many shops, cafes, restaurants and offices see the benefits of the investment in the town centre, and of the events and activities organised by the BID, but we are under no illusions about the difficulties that lie ahead.

“Our pledge to businesses is that we will continue our attempts to support and benefit every business, by bringing in more shoppers and visitors from across Calderdale, West Yorkshire and beyond, and ensuring they are encouraged to spend more across the town centre.

“By working together and unlocking our potential, I know we can boost Brighouse’s economy after a period where we have faced so much disruption and where fresh challenges emerge every day.”