Overview
As part of its work to determine how the 'Square Mile' and the
City of London Corporation are viewed, the City of London
commissioned TNS, the opinion research company, to conduct four
separate surveys with City residents, City workers, City businesses
and senior City executives in 2009.
These surveys are commissioned by the City Corporation every
three years and are a high profile means of consulting the Square
Mile’s diverse population about its performance. Along with the
City of London’s existing feedback methods, the results help the
City of London shape its future priorities and demonstrate how it
is listening to its different audiences by addressing their key
concerns.
These surveys were undertaken to discover satisfaction levels
with the City as a place to live, work and run a business. It also
tested satisfaction with the City of London Corporation and its
services, tracking satisfaction levels over time and enabling
comparison with other areas.
Summary of 2009 survey results
Almost 1,400 people’s views were collected in June/July 2009
through a combination of methods – face to face, phone interviews,
postal questionnaires and online surveys.
While it is essential to avoid complacency, overall the results
are good. TNS were impressed with the findings particularly in the
light of the difficult economic climate which experience has shown
has the potential for respondents to give more negative
responses.
The levels of familiarity with the organisation have been
maintained in all audiences with significant improvement amongst
residents and workers. In addition, the numbers who feel that the
City Corporation keeps them informed about its services have also
been maintained and, although there has been a small decline in the
numbers feeling very well informed since 2006, the figures are
considerably better than the 2003 results.
The numbers of residents and businesses who would prefer to be
contacted by letter has significantly decreased in the last three
years, whilst the numbers who would prefer to be contacted by email
(at home for residents and at work for businesses) has
increased.
The results for satisfaction with the way in which the City
Corporation performs its functions are high. There has, however,
been a significant fall in the numbers of senior executives who
feel very satisfied compared to 2006 with the figures similar to
2003 and 2000. Conversely, there has been a significant increase in
the number of residents who feel very satisfied. The numbers who
are dissatisfied remain very low, ranging from 1% of senior
executives to 5% of residents.
As in previous years businesses and senior executives were asked
about the City Corporation’s role in promoting the City. The
highest number of senior executives and City businesses continue to
feel that the City Corporation’s role in promoting the City of
London and representing its interests at home and abroad should be
increased. Only 3% of each audience feel it should be decreased.
These results can be viewed as affirmation of The CityUK
initiative.
The numbers who are satisfied with the City of London as a place
to live, work or run a business remain very high. While the number
of senior executives who are very satisfied has declined, the
number of residents who feel very satisfied has increased. Again
the numbers who are dissatisfied are very low, ranging from 1% of
senior executives to 6% of workers.
Senior executives identify UK regulation, taxation and European
regulations as the main issues that could threaten the City’s long
term status as a leading global financial centre. Of the other
competing centres, New York is considered the most significant
threat to the City of London by a wide margin.
The numbers who were aware of the ‘News from the City of London’
advertisements in the Metro newspaper (notably 36% of City workers,
compared to 28% in 2006) and the City AM columns by the Policy
Chairman and Lord Mayor were encouraging.
Departments throughout the City of London are now working to
ensure that the information from these surveys feeds into the
development and review of their services.
Detailed summary of the 2009 survey
results (83kb)
PowerPoint presentation of the 2009 survey
results (3.3mb)
Summary of the 2006 survey
results (439kb)
Contact
For more information on the stakeholder ‘reputation’ surveys
contact Adam Maddock, Public Relations Office, 020 7332 1771 or
email.