The Neighbourhood Plan group ran a survey for local businesses during autumn 2024. The results have now been analysed and these are summarised here. 

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How long has your business been operating in St Mawgan in Pydar?  

The majority of respondents (two-thirds) have operated in St Mawgan in Pydar for more than 10 years (66.67%). Over a quarter (26.67%) have been there 1–5 years,  while 6.67% have operated 6– 10 years. No respondents indicated that they had been in business for less than a year. 

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Which sector best describes your business?  

Nearly half of respondents (46.67%) operate in Hospitality/Tourism, while one-third  (33.33%) identified as Other, which includes a mix of services such as administration/tech support, charity, a combined hospitality and farming venture,  building contracting, and dog walking. Smaller segments (6.67% each) are in  Agriculture/Farming, Retail, and Professional Services/Manufacturing. 

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How many employees does your business have?  

From the responses, 37.5% of businesses are solo operators with no employees.  Around 31.25% have between 1 and 5 employees, and 25% employ 6 to 20 staff. No respondents fall into the 21–50 range, while 6.25% have more than 50 employees. 

On a scale of 1-5 (1 being very poor, 5 being excellent), how would you rate St  Mawgan in Pydar as a place to run a business? 

A clear majority of respondents rated St Mawgan in Pydar positively as a place to run a business, with 60% giving it a 4 and 20% a top score of 5. Only 13.33%  selected 2, and 6.67% gave it a neutral 3. No one rated the area as very poor. 

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What do you like most about running a business in St Mawgan in Pydar? 

Overall, respondents emphasized St Mawgan in Pydar’s tight-knit and supportive community, with many citing close personal ties—having grown up in the area or having family nearby—as a major draw. They also highlighted the region’s natural beauty, with easy access to both countryside and coast, and appreciated the proximity of the airport. Several noted a strong local network of small, independent businesses that foster a circular economy. The sense of collaboration, diverse customer base, and the area’s surroundings—woodland walks, beach access, and rural charm—were consistently praised as key benefits of running a business there. 

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What are the main challenges you face in running a business here?

Respondents identified several recurring challenges:  

• Infrastructure Issues: Chief among these are unreliable, slow, or nonexistent broadband and poor mobile phone signals. Some also struggle with water pressure problems during peak holiday seasons.  

• Seasonality & Tourism: Many businesses rely on the tourist market, which can lead to quiet off-seasons, inconsistent demand, and difficulties in staff recruitment—especially as local housing shortages and rising costs make it hard for seasonal workers to stay in the area. 

• Economic Pressures & Competition: A drop in tourism, tight personal budgets among visitors, and increased competition (such as Airbnb and second homes) create financial strain. Coupled with rising staff wages, it becomes harder to stay profitable.  

• Local Services & Workforce: Recruiting tradespeople and accessing collaborative workspaces can be challenging. Fewer full-time residents mean a smaller local customer base, compounding the inconsistency of income.  

• Location & Transport: Public transport limitations and the remote location can  limit ease of access for both customers and employees 

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Which of the following local factors are important to your business?  

The most frequently chosen local factor was the natural environment/scenery  (73.33%), followed by local community support (66.67%) and access to a skilled workforce (53.33%). Transport links and tourism both garnered 46.67%, while proximity to customers was selected by 26.67%. An additional 20% cited other factors such as sustainability, weather, and concerns about basic business survival. 

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Do you have enough workspace to operate efficiently? 

The majority of respondents (66.67%) responded ‘Yes’, indicating that they do have sufficient workspace, whilst 33.33% responded ‘No’. None were unsure. 

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Do you have enough parking space for your business needs? 

Most respondents (73.33%) feel they have sufficient parking for their business,  whereas 26.67% do not have enough parking space. None were unsure. 

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Do you think renewable energy provision is important for the future of your business premises? 

The majority (60%) believe that renewable energy provision is important for their future business premises, while a third (33.33%) do not, and 6.67% are unsure. 

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Do you think second homes and holiday homes are important to the success of your business? 

The overwhelming majority (86.67%) do not view second/holiday homes as important to their success, with only 13.33% saying they are, and none expressing uncertainty. 

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Is the local tourism industry important for your business? 

A large majority (86.67%) consider the local tourism industry important for their business, while 13.33% do not. None are unsure. 

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Are transport / traffic issues causing problems to your business? 

A slight majority (53.33%) indicate that transport or traffic issues do cause problems for their business, while 40% report no such issues, and 6.67% are unsure. 

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Does public transport support your business needs? 

A large majority (80%) say public transport does not support their business needs,  13.33% feel it does, and 6.67% are unsure. 

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Is Internet connectivity an issue for your business?

Two-thirds (66.67%) report Internet connectivity as an issue, while a third (33.33%)  do not. No respondents were unsure. 

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Would you be interested in having access to "gigafast" broadband (1 Gbps or faster)? 

The majority (73.33%) would be interested in gigafast broadband, while 20% are not interested and 6.67% are unsure. 

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Do you have adequate workspace for your current business needs? 

Two-thirds (66.67%) report having adequate workspace for their current needs, while one-third (33.33%) do not. No respondents were unsure. 

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If you answered 'No' to the previous question, what type of additional space would be most beneficial? 

Among those who lack adequate workspace, 20% specifically need workshop/industrial space, while the remaining 80% selected ‘Other’—indicating a variety of additional requirements beyond the predefined options.  

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These included:  

• Office space (with hot desks and collaborative/meeting areas) 

• Retail space  

• Storage space 

• Parking  

• Dedicated facilities for customers and staff to change and store belongings

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Do you expect your business to grow in the next 5 years? 

Just over half (53.33%) expect their business to grow in the next five years, while  20% do not and 26.67% are unsure. 

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If you expect growth, will you need to hire more employees? 

Of those who anticipate growth, 45.45% plan to hire more employees, 27.27% do not foresee new hires, and 27.27% remain unsure.

 

How important are the following factors for your business's future success? 

Based on respondents’ rankings, access to affordable housing for staff emerged as the top priority closely followed by access to a skilled local workforce. Next in importance were more business support services and improved transport infrastructure. Better digital connectivity also featured as a key concern, though it was given the lowest relative priority among the five factors. 

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Does your business currently implement any sustainability practices? 

Out of 15 responses, the majority (9) indicated that they implement some sustainability practices, 3 do not, and 3 are unsure. Respondents highlighted a range of sustainability efforts, including formal sustainability policies with award recognition,  the use of renewable energy (solar panels and battery storage), sourcing local and fair-trade products, and minimizing waste through recycling and eco-friendly practices. Some also emphasized shared transport, using recycled or re-purposed materials (e.g., boards and wetsuits), and reducing energy consumption wherever possible.

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Are there any other issues or opportunities related to running a business in St  Mawgan in Pydar that you'd like to mention? 

Respondents raised several issues and opportunities:  

• Parking Constraints: Limited parking options for customers, often occupied by non-customers, pose a significant challenge.  

• Planning and Local Representation: Concerns that local input (e.g. Parish  Council decisions) is not adequately considered in broader planning processes.  

• Housing Affordability: Particularly for single-person households, housing costs are creating workforce and community challenges.  

• Environmental and Infrastructure Risks: Flooding and water quality in the sea remain threats, alongside concerns about the impact of second homes being left empty instead of rented to tourists.  

• Tourism Affordability: With camping and caravan sites disappearing, the area  risks becoming less accessible to visitors on smaller budgets, potentially  driving tourists elsewhere 

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Thank you to everyone who completed the survey.