WITH ‘non-essential’ shops set to start re-opening from Monday, the Haslemere & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce has launched a new Business Barometer survey to capture the views of local businesses as they grapple with a post-Covid future.

Previous barometers have focused on business confidence and the new survey will gather views from retailers, professional service providers, bars, restaurants and venues as they get back to business in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

New questions focus on how local businesses are adjusting to the easing of lockdown restrictions and how optimistic they are about prospects for the next 12 months.

The survey is open until June 30 and the chamber will publish the results later in the summer.

Craig McGowan, the chamber president, said: “I hope as many people as possible will complete our new survey.

“It’s a vital part of our work to find out what businesses are thinking and will inform the chamber’s policies and priorities.

“None of us has ever experienced a time like this – whether you’re a business owner, employee or simply concerned about your family and loved ones. The pandemic has had a significant impact on our collective confidence as a business community.

“But it’s also confidence that is going to play a key part in getting our businesses and our town back on its feet.

“With non-essential services and retailers able to open from Monday, I hope our businesses will continue to dig deep and find that confidence that will enable them to do great things for themselves and the local community.”

Over the past three months the chamber has played a key role in Haslemere’s wider Covid emergency response, as well as giving local firms free advice, reducing the rent at the Haslemere Business Centre, lobbying the government for further financial help for small businesses and landlords for rent reductions, Waverley council and the police on parking and for the Lower Street road closure to be brought forward to June.

See haslemerechamber.co.uk for more information.