To maximise participation and business engagement in workshops, interviews, and surveys, pitch relevant questions and repeat online events. Consider purchasing business samples from marketing databases to expand reach.
Clearly emphasise the research’s purpose and impact on each stakeholder group:
- For 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, highlight improvements in skills, employability, and addressing shortages.
- For 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, stress informing local skills system changes.
- For 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, underscore understanding employer needs and building a robust evidence base.
- For 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, focus on ensuring workforce skills for employers, boosting productivity, pay, and job quality.
Key business engagement tips
- Tailor questions to different groups.
- Design short, targeted engagements for businesses: brief online surveys, 15-minute phone calls, or 20-minute online focus groups
- Leverage existing events and newsletters for business representative groups.
- Use online registration and calendar booking apps (microsoft’s outlook booking page is pretty good!)
- Buy business contact details to supplement existing lists for surveys.
Leverage digital and mobile technology to help with business engagement:
- Use apps for voice/video feedback (with transcription and summary analysis).
- Utilise automated transcription services, ensuring recording permissions are part of booking.
- Employ online surveys for their low cost and instant data, but be aware of low response rates; keep them 2-3 minutes to complete.
- Use a CRM system
There is more guidance is in our ultimate guide – which builds on evidence, evaluation and our experience to Supercharge your Local Skills Improvement Plan
Access it here.
About the Local Skills Improvement Partnership
We are Glenn Athey, Mike Spicer and Hannah Lazarus and we combine our extensive experience, with findings from evidence, evaluation and guidance to provide expert advice and support to Supercharge your Local Skills Improvement Plan.
