Government survey
IPSOS Mori phoned me tonight to ask me to participate in a special survey about how the Scottish Government 'could help my business'.*
Ferret meet drainpipe. I thought...
RET? ADS? Less red tape?
Nope.
"What sort of problems have you had in borrowing money in the past three years?" Name the banks. Name the problems. Identify the borrowing requirements.
Tangential questions about staffing and some other issues, but all about how the banking system had failed us. Not that I am suggesting there were leading questions.
Even questions about growth aspirations and expectations were underplayed.
All in all, I felt like my comments were being used to justify a stick to complain about matters outwith the Scottish Governments control rather than any real interest in how control could be used to help our business grow.
As I have done in the past, I explained how we grow, how we could be helped to grow, and the obstacles to growth. Ooops. My answers didn't fit the criteria, or the questions didn't seek these sort of answers.
I had to recall how I told a very senior business development officer how to grow the entire local professional services market. Thrice. No reply. No interest. And when suggestions were made, a flat refusal to help "on policy grounds" delivered by an underling. The impression that one needs the right handshake is not helped by previous and subsequent events.
Thankfully, at least one person is interested in building a case, despite their superiors (sic).
Still onwards and upwards waving two fingers in the air.....
(And I have great story about a local politician who proclaims to b pro-business... But that's for later)
* Forgive me from quoting Ronald Regan, who said the nine scariest words were "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".
Ferret meet drainpipe. I thought...
RET? ADS? Less red tape?
Nope.
"What sort of problems have you had in borrowing money in the past three years?" Name the banks. Name the problems. Identify the borrowing requirements.
Tangential questions about staffing and some other issues, but all about how the banking system had failed us. Not that I am suggesting there were leading questions.
Even questions about growth aspirations and expectations were underplayed.
All in all, I felt like my comments were being used to justify a stick to complain about matters outwith the Scottish Governments control rather than any real interest in how control could be used to help our business grow.
As I have done in the past, I explained how we grow, how we could be helped to grow, and the obstacles to growth. Ooops. My answers didn't fit the criteria, or the questions didn't seek these sort of answers.
I had to recall how I told a very senior business development officer how to grow the entire local professional services market. Thrice. No reply. No interest. And when suggestions were made, a flat refusal to help "on policy grounds" delivered by an underling. The impression that one needs the right handshake is not helped by previous and subsequent events.
Thankfully, at least one person is interested in building a case, despite their superiors (sic).
Still onwards and upwards waving two fingers in the air.....
(And I have great story about a local politician who proclaims to b pro-business... But that's for later)
* Forgive me from quoting Ronald Regan, who said the nine scariest words were "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".
1 comment:
I've had the coves from IPSOS MORI on the phone for the same survey. Three times. The first time, I was 'screened out'. The second time, an apology and an admission that they needed more respondents, and would I please try again. Screened out again.
Third time in a week this afternoon, a chatty blone who admitted that no-one would answer their questions and would I help? Of course. Anything to help the Government.
Me, with my two staff and a micro-business. MORI: 'How much business borrowing have you undertaken using factoring, secured lending, business mortgages and leveraged or third-party finance?'
Me: 'Are you sure this is about small business?'
MORI: 'Ooh yes, this is a bit complicated, isn't it?'
No wonder no-one will reply. Sure it will be a really interesting outcome.
Post a Comment