Michelmores new hands on tiller of Business Barometer

The 33rd Western Morning News Business Barometer will be published in October with the business group at Michelmores LLP as the new compilers and analysts.

The survey, which provides a current snapshot of business attitudes and trading, has new hands on the tiller following Ernst & Young's relocation of most of its South West practice to Bristol.

Stephen Morse, who heads Michelmores' business group, said: "We are very excited about taking on the Business Barometer and will aim to increase the survey size. However, we should pay tribute to Ernst & Young, both for the foresight in establishing this important survey in the first place and for the quality of the analysis that they have provided over the last decade."

Anyone receiving the survey is urged to ensure it is passed on to the appropriate person to answer a number of simple multiple choice questions and return the survey to Michelmores.

Mr Morse said: "The survey has a number of stock questions which provide a comparison benchmark and there will be further questions on specific topics which will change with each survey. In addition to the questions, there is a section where business can provide a personal comment which may be used in the subsequent analysis."

The survey will only take a few minutes to complete and we really encourage people to participate. The first of the quarterly surveys will be issued in September 2009.

For more information, or to request to take part in the survey if you are a business in the South West, please contact Sarah Coleman at sarah.coleman@michelmores.com.