Bacta Pulse survey reveals rising operating costs as biggest threat to businesses

Rising operating costs represent the single biggest threat to the industry according to the results of the first Bacta Pulse survey of members.

The first Pulse survey, conducted via the trade association’s President’s Update e-shot distributed on 6thMarch, found that 61.36 percent of respondents identified rising costs as the biggest threat to their livelihoods, more than double the 25 percent who highlighted regulatory uncertainty.

Changes to taxation and falling footfall were named by 9.09 percent and 4.55 percent respectively, while no respondents identified staff recruitment or retention as the primary challenge facing their business.

Commenting on the findings, Bacta Director of Communications Allaster Gair said: “Rising operating costs are clearly the defining pressure facing our members. Many businesses are dealing with a combination of higher energy prices, increased labour costs and wider inflationary pressures while operating in a highly regulated environment where operators cannot simply pass those costs on to consumers.

“That is why it is so important that government now looks seriously at measures such as reviewing stake and prize limits and ensuring that regulatory policy reflects the economic realities facing high street and coastal businesses.”

The survey also provided an insight into the political sentiment of Bacta members, and in good news for Clacton MP Nigel Farage, Reform UK emerged as the party that would attract the largest share of votes from respondents.

Asked which party they would vote for if a General Election were held tomorrow, 39.53 percent named Reform UK, compared with 32.56 percent for the Conservative Party. The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats were tied in third place with 6.98 percent each, narrowly above the 5 percent threshold required to retain a parliamentary deposit.

The upsurge in support for the Green Party evidenced in its victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election has failed to engage with the Bacta membership, with only 2.33 percent saying they would vote for the party led by Zack Polanski.

Continuing the political theme, respondents expressed significant concern about the current economic climate. 86.05 percent said they were less confident about the state of the industry than they were prior to the July 2024 General Election, which saw Labour win a 174-seat majority. Just 4.65 percent said they were more confident, with double that proportion unsure.

Finally, and in an industry that boasts a large proportion of intergenerational businesses, just 27.27 percentconfirmed they would recommend a family member follow a career in the industry, a response level that reflects the uncertainty facing businesses and anxiety over rising costs. 36.36 percent were clear that they would not recommend the industry with the same proportion saying they were unsure.

Bacta President Joseph Cullis added: “Bacta Pulse gives members a quick and easy way to share what’s really happening on the ground. The survey takes just a few seconds to complete, but the insight it provides is incredibly valuable in helping Bacta make the case for the industry with government and regulators.

“I would encourage every member to take part each week so we can continue building a clear picture of the challenges facing our sector.”

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12 March 2026

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