Burges Salmon Index
The Burges Salmon (BS) Index is a quarterly survey sponsored by the firm on behalf of GWE Business West, formerly the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative. 150 senior managers from a wide range of companies based in the South West are surveyed.
Since its inception 15 years ago, the BS Index has become much more than a measure of business attitudes – it has established itself as the leading signpost to business developments in the region, providing business managers with a link to policy-makers. As well as tracking business confidence - or lack of it - it also tackles a whole range of key issues for business, ranging from Europe to diversity in the workforce, through emotive transport issues to the role of the arts as a catalyst for attracting new business.
By asking some of the same questions on a regular basis the Index has – over its 15 years of existence - provided a fascinating picture of changing perspectives, allowing a detailed study of trends and differing viewpoints. As such, it has been recognised as a very valuable and credible source of information on regional affairs, and has been mentioned in publications as diverse as the Financial Times, Hansard, and Golf Weekly (on how many deals are completed during a round of golf!). More recently Lord Coe presented some its findings when preparing his case for the 2012 Olympics to come to the UK.
From our perspective, the Index provides us with an opportunity to seek feedback from a wide range of local businesses on key developments, and a number of you will have contributed to previous editions of the Index, perhaps in relation to employment, pensions, tax and property issues. Originally established by Bob Smyth, a number of partners have held the reins over the years, with Rupert Weston currently in charge.