You’ve spoken and we are taking action

We recently conducted a comprehensive survey of our members to gain a better understanding of your thoughts and perspectives. We're excited to share the key findings from the questionnaire and outline the steps we're taking to address the feedback received.

A Look at the Results

The survey provided valuable insights, with a mean value of 7.2 out of 10 respondents agreeing that SPA contributes meaningfully to the Sheffield City Region and the economic geography as defined by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

However, the feedback also showed room for improvement. Some members expressed that they would like to see a stronger focus on the City Region as a whole, rather than just Sheffield. Others emphasised the need for clearer communication about SPA's achievements to better understand our impact.

It was also clear that our members have high expectations for SPA's longer-term objectives. There were calls for more emphasis on promoting Sheffield and the SCR, attracting investment, and championing the region's voice nationally and internationally. Collaboration with other organisations, sustainable growth, and support for our members were also common threads in the feedback.

Our Response and Next Steps

We want to reassure our members that we are not exclusive to Sheffield. We encourage activity and involvement across SY and welcome any volunteers or organisations from the wider SY conurbations to get involved in any way they can.

We often work closely with SYMCA on various levels, however we appreciate that these collaborations often go unannounced.

We've also taken on board comments around diversity and inclusivity, which have led to the formation of the EDI group and the implementation of our EDI policy as an organisation. Furthermore, we've updated our Articles of Business and recruited a new Director in response to feedback about our legal structure.

During our October members' breakfast morning last year, our priority groups initiated a discussion about the potential benefits of having a sustainability group. Responding proactively to this feedback, we have since established a sustainability group, Promoting our Future. This group shows our commitment to sustainability and our responsiveness to member feedback. We're excited about the work we've been doing and look forward to sharing our progress in the coming months.

Lastly, we want to highlight our strong and positive relationships with SCC & the public sector. We're not afraid to be positively critical when needed, as we believe this is crucial for growth and improvement.

We appreciate all the feedback we've received and are committed to taking the necessary steps to improve our organisation and better serve our members.