Eastleigh Borough Council has embarked on its largest ever study of businesses to help enhance the economic prosperity of the area by understanding the needs of its business community.

Eastleigh council, the only local authority in the south-east to be awarded Beacon Council status for fostering business growth, will be asking over 3,100 local businesses to participate in the research. It is the council's latest strategy aimed at improving the economic development of the borough, and achieving a vibrant economy for the whole community.

Councillor Peter Wall, the portfolio holder for Prosperity and Health, said, "With a tightening economy we recognise that it is imperative that we respond to the needs of our local business community. By asking our businesses directly we can discover their needs, increase support and help enhance opportunities in the borough for them."

The survey is being sent to the full spectrum of businesses in the borough, which employs approximately 53,000 people, as this will help ascertain the state of the economy and the challenges that face local businesses today.

"We are particularly interested in seeing how we can address common issues such as skills shortages, recruitment and the right location for businesses," he said. "The survey will help us to understand and react to these problems."

The postal questionnaires, which will arrive on business doorsteps in several days' time, should only take about five minutes to complete with easy tick box and yes or no answers.

The Beacon Council hopes that businesses will be encouraged to respond to the survey as it could directly effect them. Cllr Peter Wall explained, " The survey is being carried out on a borough wide scale so we can try to create a complete picture of our local economy and thus respond to our business community's needs in the most effective ways."

Eastleigh's economic development manager Peter Grant added, "We are delighted to have the survey enhanced by several local sponsors.

"Businesses who respond will be entered into a prize draw to win several substantial prizes for their company.''