At the Brampton Board of Trade, we are excited to kick off preparations for the 2024 Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey. This survey serves as one of the most important tools in our efforts to understand the challenges and opportunities facing Brampton’s business community. By collecting and analyzing data from local businesses, the BCI enables us to identify the key factors impacting the economic environment in our city. Armed with these insights, we can tailor our programs and advocacy efforts to ensure they address the most pressing needs of our members and stakeholders.
Over the years, the BCI has provided a comprehensive snapshot of the business landscape in Brampton. From economic growth projections to concerns about local infrastructure, the BCI has gathered a wealth of information that has helped us develop strategies that respond to real-world challenges. In previous editions, the survey has been extensive, covering a broad spectrum of issues to capture a complete picture of the business community’s concerns. This year, we’re refining the approach by focusing on key metrics that directly measure business confidence, economic outlook, and opinions on core advocacy priorities. Our decision to streamline the survey in 2024 is driven by the need to hone in on the most impactful data, ensuring that our findings are sharp, actionable, and relevant to today’s economic climate.
The insights from the BCI have always been critical in shaping our advocacy work. For instance, last year’s survey revealed that the top three concerns for Brampton businesses were transportation and traffic congestion, access to skilled labour, and affordable housing. These concerns were reflected in the day-to-day challenges that businesses were experiencing, from employees struggling with long commutes to difficulties in filling essential roles due to a lack of affordable housing and skilled workers.
In response, we have incorporated these themes into our major initiatives, such as Brampton in Motion, a symposium dedicated to exploring the future of transportation and housing in the city. This event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and experts to discuss tangible solutions to these pressing issues. We’ve also continued to advocate for infrastructure investments, including major projects like the extension of the Hazel McCallion LRT and improvements to regional transit. Additionally, our upcoming forum, LEAP, is addressing access to skilled labour by providing education on pathways to connect businesses with talent, supporting both short-term needs and long-term workforce planning.
This year’s BCI survey will be vital in continuing these efforts, helping us refine our approach to ensure that we are tackling the right priorities for Brampton’s business community. Whether it’s advocating for better transportation infrastructure, pushing for more affordable housing options, or ensuring that businesses can access the talent they need, your input through the BCI is essential to making meaningful progress.
We encourage all Brampton businesses, regardless of size or industry, to participate in the 2024 BCI survey. Your feedback is critical in shaping the future of our advocacy, programming, and strategic initiatives. By sharing your insights, you can help us craft solutions that drive growth, foster innovation, and make Brampton an even better place to do business. Keep an eye out for the survey launch early next week—this is your opportunity to make your voice heard and influence the direction of Brampton’s economy for the coming year! Please email me at vsingh@bramptobot.com if you have any thoughts or would like to be in the loop on the BCI development.
