Each year, our team at BDO conducts the State Business Survey. We gather the views, concerns and ideas of our state’s remarkable business community and report them to the media and to decision makers.

The results and ensuing conversations are fascinating – due to the generosity and candour of respondents, it feels as though we truly have the pulse of a group who are so vital to the economy of South Australia and are able to advocate on their behalf.

Of course this year, it holds more importance than ever. As we watch our counterparts’ interstate and abroad continue to battle this pandemic and the havoc it wreaks, we can’t help but feel that we are in the best place in the world.

Some semblance of normal life has returned to us here. Not without noticeable differences, of course, and with some scars that will take a while yet to heal, but relative normalcy none the less.

The situation we each find ourselves in depends very much on location, circumstances and vitally – industry sector. Hospitality and Tourism spring to mind as having borne the brunt of 2020’s business hardship, as does bricks and mortar retail.

Much of the economic discussion has, rightly, been from a national perspective. A united, holistic approach to relief measures and policy is called for in times such as this – so it follows that the analysis will take a broader view, too.

Given our unique position here in South Australia, however, it seems timely and useful to have a deeper discussion of our experience and position at a local level.

How confident is the SA business community? What are their greatest concerns? How have their businesses actually tracked throughout the pandemic? How are their staff coping? What do they want our future business landscape to look like? What policy reform do they want to see?

There are so many facets to business confidence in the best of times, and with the uncertainty and at times outright fear that has marred 2020, it is a more complicated concept than ever.

It has been truly heartening to see the broader community galvanised during this time – with a renewed focus on buying local products and services to help our businesses make it through.

Economic recovery will depend, to a large degree, on a business community with the confidence and the capacity to pick up and move forward.

To that end, we MUST listen to what they have to say. We encourage each and every business owner in South Australia, no matter their location, industry or business size, to add their voice to this conversation.

The 7th annual BDO SA State Business Survey is open today – it will only take about 15 minutes of your time but we assure you – the results will reach the ears of not only the broader community, but those in positions of influence.

We are a resilient, optimistic state filled to the brim with innovative thinkers and great business minds – let’s take this rare opportunity to gather our collective experiences and ideas, and have a conversation that could truly help shape our business environment well beyond the next election cycle.

Click here to participate in the survey.

David Fechner is Partner, Business Services at BDO Adelaide.