Cardiff 'city of choice' for 95% of working population

Major new Cardiff Business School Report shows how positive Cardiff employees are about their employers and their city

95% of Cardiff employees want to stay in Cardiff for the foreseeable future, according to a new report led by Cardiff Business School for the Cardiff Business Partnership.

The city's first survey of its kind showed that employees were positive about their current employers, with 48% wanting to be with their current employer, but in a more senior role, in 15 years' time.

Roy J Thomas of Cardiff Business Partnership said: "In light of the current economic climate and the gloom of recession, the survey suggests that Cardiff as a city has a strong basis on which to prosper in the future. It is particularly pleasing that over two thirds (68%) of respondents see their long-term futures as being in Cardiff."

However, respondents felt that there was room for improvement with the City's infrastructure, with transport-related issues featuring prominently. Congestion, public transport and parking charges emerged as major bugbears for a high proportion of respondents.

Almost 80% of the written feedback given as part of the survey raised concerns about transport, with complaints about the limited parking available and the cost of parking in the city centre.
Buses and trains were not considered to be effective alternatives to driving by a number of respondents.

The report summarises some key findings from a major survey of employees working in Cardiff. The research and analysis has been conducted by Cardiff Business School in conjunction with Cardiff Business Partnership.

Professor Rick Delbridge of Cardiff Business School said "It is important that views of those who work in the City are taken seriously. Good companies undertake employee surveys but this was a survey of the City. The survey is the first to look at how people feel about Cardiff as a place to work.

"The School is delighted to be working with the Cardiff Business Partnership on this research. There is great potential value in work of this kind; it gives firms, politicians and local policy makers important insights into how people feel and the things that worry them."

The city of Cardiff has a diverse economic base and is a major regional employer, drawing 70,000 people from outside the city to work each day. The service sector employs 167,800 people and is of considerable importance to the Welsh economy.

Roy J. Thomas said: "We are intent on growing the prosperity of the City while at the same time maintain the character which makes it special to those who work here. We aim to ensure that policy makers consider the findings when shaping a vision for the future."

Download a copy of the report here