Survey launched into NW professional services demand
Pro Manchester and Professional Liverpool are undertaking a study of the buying habits of companies in the North West to help boost the region's economy.
The team, led by Christine Oxenburgh, wants companies across the North West to spare half an hour to talk about what influences them when buying professional services.
The researchers want to uncover how respondents rate the quality, price, service and choice offered by firms in the region and the results will be revealed at a Pro Manchester event later this year.
Pro Manchester, in conjunction with Professional Liverpool, has interviewed a sample group of 434 businesses, 15 councils and 25 public authorities and publicly-owned companies. It will now focus on companies which have a turnover of more than £5m, 20 or more employees and have headquarters in the region.
Oxenburgh, a solicitor at Gorvin's, said: "Our research so far has revealed price is not the key driver and different sectors have hugely varied reasons for choosing suppliers.
"Value for money was cited as an influencing factor but this is not a priority to all people. Speed of response, introductions to other opportunities and proximity were also deciding factors.
"We want to get in front of more North West companies to uncover what really drives procurement decisions."
Oxenburgh's work will be supported by Samantha Livesey, from Pannone, Kirsty Shenton, from MC2, Tim Newns, from MIDAS, Steve Crompton from Mazars and Martin Dougall from KPMG.
Interviewees will find out the results from the research at an exclusive pro.manchester event later this year.
To find out more about this research project and how you can be a part of it, contact Christine Oxenburgh on 0161 930 5151 or Rachel Smith on 0161 833 0964.
