Our projects

Community Business Pulse Survey

Our Pulse Survey is a quarterly survey of community businesses across England, gathering timely insight on the sector’s experiences, opportunities, and challenges.

Keeping our finger on the pulse

We’re using the Pulse Survey to track trends and understand how community businesses and local communities are doing, what they think of the government and policies that impact them, how community-focused policies are working on the ground, and what support is needed from central government, local authorities and funders. These insights steer our projects, our thinking, and how we work with the government and our partners.

What we’re seeing

Data from our most recent survey.

Business prospects

Percentage of community businesses expecting prospects to improve over next 3 months.

Views on local area

Percentage of community businesses reporting their local area has declined or improved.

Views on feeling listened to

Percentage of community businesses who think their local council, MP, or government will listen to them when making decisions that affect them.

Working relationship with government

Percentage of community businesses reporting a positive relationship with local government and national government.

About the data

Findings are based on a quarterly survey of community businesses engaged with Power to Change. As participants are not randomly selected, results should be interpreted as indicative rather than representative of the entire sector.

Join our mailing list

We run a £50 prize draw each year, awarded to one community business who has completed our survey. If you are a community business and would like to complete the survey, please contact our Insight Manager, Linda Hien.

Email Linda

Explore more

Delve into what community businesses have been telling us each quarter.

The future use of the Community Right to Buy Fund: insights from community businesses

The future use of the Community Right to Buy Fund: insights from community businesses

Community businesses say funding and support must go further.
Saving the high street, not squeezing it: community businesses brace for business rates changes

Saving the high street, not squeezing it: community businesses brace for business rates changes

Our latest Pulse Survey results reveal more than a third of community businesses running vital local spaces expect sharp rises in their business rates bills, with many unsure if they can afford them and unable to access the substantial support being offered to retail, hospitality and leisure venues.
Local people at the centre: Community business views on Pride in Place

Local people at the centre: Community business views on Pride in Place

In our last Pulse Survey of the year, community businesses express cautious optimism towards Pride in Place funding and the provision of Neighbourhood Boards.
No results found.
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