Business survey
Late in 2007, we asked the creative businesses on our database to complete a simple online questionnaire to try and find out what they thought about being located in North London. As expected, about 4% responded (81 businesses), so the results can only be used as an indication of the types of creative businesses in North London, where they are located, and what the future holds for them.
The businesses
The largest subsectors were:
15% visual arts
10% performing arts
10% photography
10% film/video/TV
8% design/graphic design
The remaining 47% was made up of small numbers of businesses in architecture, digital/new media, fashion, museums/art galleries, music, printing, publishing, and TV/radio broadcasting, as well as a few that couldn't be categorised.
About half were registered for VAT.
The average number of people working for these businesses was just over 5. Although 75% of the respondents were sole traders or 2-person businesses, a number of larger companies emplpoyed more than 15 people (punblishing, film/video/TV).
Their location
Over 50% run their businesses from residential properties. The rest are located equally in High Street/retail centres, industrial/business estates, and in clusters of creative businesses.
To a certain extent, the subsector breakdown of the businesses located in different environments reflects the size and nature of the business. For example, design/graphic design, digital/new media, music are mostly located in residential properties, whereas visual and performing arts are in both residential and clusters. Larger businesses like publishing are in industrial/business estates.
Most considered access is good (both by public transport and road), although parking remains a problem.
Around half thought their proximity to suppliers, customers and amenities was average. Workspace facilities are also average, but half the respondents regarded workspace security and personal safety as good.
30% chose their location based on cost, 30% for the general
environment, 24% for personal/family reasons, and only 16% for the
business opportunities it offered.
Design/graphic design, digital/new media, visual arts and other businesses gave the cost of workspace as being the reason for choosing their location.
The majority of businesses (93%) liked being in North London.
Their future
The businesses were asked if they were planning to move, would they relocate in the next year or the next five years. Of the half who said ther were thinking of moving (not necessarily out of North London), 60% expected to do so in the next year.
Two-thirds are optimistic about the future of their business. The rest are not sure, and only a few are pessimistic.
In this graphic, the relative numbers of businesses in each subsector who think their business is growing or declining is illustrated. In design/graphic design, film/video/TV, music and visual arts, most are optimistic. In performing arts and photography, more are pessimistic.
Many of the respondents told us about their business needs. Top of those not being met are marketing and sales support, followed closely by the need for more networking opportunities. Access to finance and funding, more affordfable workspace and better technical services were also cited.