Last year, 452 business owners and leaders across Belfast took time to respond to the Belfast Business Survey collated by Belfast City Council and Belfast Chamber.
The message was clear…we’re hopeful, but we’re not without challenge.
Reading through the 2024 results, I was struck by how many of the insights resonated with what I’ve been hearing in rooms, boardrooms, workshops, and conversations across this city.
As someone who runs a business in Belfast and works closely with entrepreneurs across all sectors, I know how stretched time can be. But I also know how important it is to make space for opportunities like this, to share what’s really going on. Because if we don’t speak up, we risk being left out of the decisions that affect us most.
Here’s a few key findings from last year’s survey and why your input in the 2025 edition matters more than ever.
2024: A City of Contrasts
While over 30% of businesses felt optimistic about their own outlook, confidence in the wider Belfast economy sat lower at just 19%. We’re still hopeful, but cautious.
And when it came to profits, only 27% reported an increase over the previous six months. That figure edged slightly higher when businesses looked ahead, with a third expecting things to improve, but we’re still dealing with narrow margins and economic strain.
What’s Holding Us Back?
Recruitment shot to the top of the challenge list last year. Businesses told the survey that finding and keeping the right staff was a constant struggle. Add to that rising wholesale and labour costs, employee wellbeing pressures, and the ever-present squeeze from business rates…and you’ve got a complex picture of what it really means to run a business in Belfast right now.
We Also Told Them What We Need
The top three support needs in 2024 all centred around people:
- Improving staff skills
- Recruiting effectively
- Supporting employee health and wellbeing
Marketing, advertising, and IT security were also high on the list, showing how much business owners are thinking about growth and resilience, not just survival.
It’s Not Just About What Happens Inside Our Walls
Street cleanliness, parking, and anti-social behaviour were once again the top three neighbourhood concerns. If you’ve ever run a customer-facing business in Belfast, you’ll understand why those issues consistently rank highest.
We’re Starting to Think Sustainably
Nearly half of all businesses surveyed said they had introduced new sustainability measures, most often related to recycling and waste reduction. That’s a positive sign, and one I hope continues to grow year on year.
Why You Should Fill in the 2025 Survey
These insights aren’t just numbers. They’re a snapshot of our collective experience, in other words – what’s working, what isn’t, and where we need support.
If Belfast City Council and Belfast Chamber say they’re listening, and too few of us respond, the data skews. The message gets diluted. Our sector, our size, or our neighbourhood might not be represented.
If you’re running a business in Belfast, whether it’s a team of 50 or a solo venture from your kitchen table, your experience counts.
Take the time. Add your voice. Help shape a more accurate, more useful picture of what doing business in Belfast really looks like in 2025.
Complete the survey at >> https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfast-business-sentiment-survey-2025
Download last year’s report here >> https://belfastchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Belfast-Business-Survey-Spring-2024-V1.0.pdf