UK Business Barometer

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The July survey asked for views on Creative Problem Solving techniques and training, work based learning and to rank various aspects of government service.

216 Business Advisers responded to this Survey.

Survey Findings

The first part of the July Survey was focused around government services: - were respondents satisfied or not? and what were the most important aspects of their experience with the delivery of government services?. The same questions were asked in the parallel July UK Business Barometer, which drew 173 respondents, and the two sets of results are compared here.

In terms of overall experience of government services, the majority of respondents to both Surveys replied in the neutral to dissatisfied range, with 62% of total UKBAB respondents and 51% of total UKBB respondents. The UKBAB found that although only 9% had no recent experience of government services, of the 91% that had such experience 33% were neutral but 47% were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. 21% of UKBB respondents had no recent experience, but of those that had, 33% were neutral and 51% were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

In view of the general marked lack of enthusiasm by panellists towards the delivery of government services, ranking of positive aspects may have been a challenge. However, excluding those who had no recent experience of government services, the aspect seen as the most important was agreed by 37% of the UKBAB and 40% of the UKBB respondents to be 'knowledgeable, competent staff'.

The second most important aspect was thought by UKBAB respondents to be' timeliness of service delivery' with 28% of responses , although 26% of respondents gave 'knowledgeable, competent staff' as their choice - these figures exclude those with no recent experience. While 'knowledgeable, competent staff' was also chosen by 26% of UKBB respondents, 26% of UKBB respondents also chose 'positive and helpful staff attitude', excluding those with no recent experience.

The third place for UKBAB respondents went to a 'positive and helpful staff attitude', with 24% but 'a successful outcome' fell within a half of one percent of this, The UKBB selected 'timeliness of service delivery', 29%,

There is increasing emphasis on the encouragement of creative problem solving skills in universities, schools and businesses. Creative problem solving skills are recognized as being of key importance in business, both in successful innovation and in the growth of established business. Two techniques were looked at in this Survey and both frequently feature in courses run on creative thinking. Four questions were asked identically in both the UKBB and UKBAB Surveys and the comparative results are presented here.

76% of respondents to the UKBAB are highly or relatively highly familiar with the structured process of brainstorming and 44% use the process routinely in confronting business problems. A smaller percentage of UKBB respondents know about brainstorming - 54% to a high or relative high extent, and 40% use the process routinely in confronting business problems.

Mindmapping is not well known to as many of the panellists although 56% of UKBAB and 32% of UKBB respondents said they are highly or relatively highly familiar with the structured process. 14% of UKBAB and 41% of UKBB respondents are not at all familiar with it. Only 16% of UKBAB and12% of UKBB respondents use mindmapping routinely in confronting business problems, while 36% of UKBAB and 59% of UKBB never use the technique.

An indication of a strong wish to develop such creative thinking techniques was given by the 59% of UKBAB respondents who think it is very important or important for smaller firms to have access to advice and tuition on the application of such techniques. Only 3% think it irrelevant. These views were backed by the results of a similar question in the UKBB Survey, where 78% said they think such access is important and 22% said not.

Many Advisers offer guidance and advice to their clients in this area and 41% offer it to a high or moderately high extent, although 14% do not offer advice or guidance in this area at all.

The UKBAB Survey asked advisers which method of delivering training was better for their clients and 94% selected face to face group work. When UKBB respondents access development training, their preferred way of doing so is also, for the majority of 68%, via face-to-face group work rather than paper or web based.

A large majority of UKBB and UKBAB respondents agree that the increasing emphasis on work based learning for students is a sensible trend.

Views expressed are those of individual panellists and may not represent those of the University.

The questions on government services list only positives, the response is a wish list. In business support there is great duplication of effort through the many agencies involved (much worse in supported areas such as Obj 1 & 2 areas) aggravated by competition between the agencies and the RDAs.

Such questions are by their nature general. My view is that different people have differing learning styles/preferences and what might be a sound method for some is unsuitable for others

Care needs to be taken on the continued use of the phrase 'brain storming' - in some sectors it is considered not only politically incorrect but offensive.

Your questionnaire is biased, I like many others have had very poor responses from government departments, my experience was with rude uncooperative staff who did not know their subject. To have a questionnaire without the ability to record a poor outcome will only give an answer in the positive which is far from the facts and will not enable government to improve

brainstorming or pc mind showering -what next!!!

In addition to my freelance business advisory role with an Enterprise Agency, I devised an Enterprise programme for schools & colleges, which is sub-licensed to recognised national training providers for delivery across the UK - so I was especially interested in contributing to this month's survey. Schools and myself alike are appalled by the DfES approach to the current enterprise funding stream application process

Q2,3,4 were hard to understand in view of my dissatisfaction with govt service so i have answered what would be important if they could deliver it

Please note that Questions 1, 2 and 3 were not clearly put. I answered them as what should be, my expectations - the reality does not live up to this.

Penultimate question answer is 'all of them'. There is no best method. Work experience is vital for students in all disciplines

You should not be using the term "brainstorming " in these days of pc!!!

Following on from this survey it would be worthwhile to canvas opinions on the effectiveness of the SME support services.

Keep the surveys going on how to stimulate creativity in SME's

There is a lot more to creativity than brainstorming & mindmapping & training! The type of methods for problem solving depend very much on both the type of problem and the individuals concerned

Very simple to use.

Painless registration Experience of government delivery restricted to 1 conversation The question about training methods depends entirely on the individual and their style so not a good question

The questions on government services are too general and need to focus on segments or specific departments

I have worked with Hi-Growth Start-Up's in Northamptonshire for past three and a half years - the quality of the clients are varied as you'd expect and therefore for some brainstorming would be applicable others not - life is not black or white as the survey questions indicate - it is very difficult to give definitive answers.

Thank you for providing a simple to answer survey that does not take up too much time. This is one survey that I will be happy to continue to subscribe to.

Interesting, first time, involvement. Look forward to future surveys.

A good first start for me, new registered person.

It seems very superficial and narrow

Good to see that practical work experience is being considered for the student population.

The questions can be somewhat vague

Just the right length and easy to complete

The first question is better suited to a company in receipt of Business Support advice, rather than an Adviser.

You only mention one tool for creativity

A useful conduit for opinion and sharing of experience.