54% of respondents were in work, almost 24% of these self-employed, with only 1 unemployed, 3 on government training schemes and 14 seeking work. 27% were wholly retired (Q.22 and 24).
Agriculture accounted for 56% of jobs, with almost 11% in retail or repairs and 9% offering professional services. Catering/Tourism accounted for 6% and construction 5.5%, with less than 2% involved in manufacturing (Q.25b).
Only 2 respondents were thinking of becoming self-employed, with 25 people prevented from doing so by lack of start-up finance: Other restrictions, besides lack of confidence, pointed to the need for business skills training, premises and contacts (Q.26b).
The gainfully employed of Bradworthy
The 117 people running businesses in the parish, of whom 62 are in agriculture, employed only 83 people between them (Q.25).
Just over 62% of those employed worked in the Parish, with almost 20% working within 10 miles, but with 45 (18%) people having to travel more than 10 miles to work (Q.23).
' Money and income must be kept local e.g. a credit union '
There was a high level of support for job creation in the parish, with 86% of respondents wanting to create more jobs in the area (Q.20), but 81% opposed heavy industry.
There was support for more light industry from almost 76% of respondents but only one third of these wanted this 'very much'(Q. 17).
Almost three quarters of respondents felt a published register of local skills and trades available in the area would be a useful development (Q 19). 127 respondents had heard of the Local Exchange Trading System (L.E.T.S.), 1/3 of the sample. 71 people felt it would be useful to have a LETS in Bradworthy, with only 46 feeling that it would not be very useful or not useful at all (Q.21).
' Local needs are banking facilities, chemist, bakery, youth club, ladies' and gents' ouffitters '
Recommendations
Funding could be sought, with the help of the North Tamar Business Network, to encourage the creation of more local businesses, which would enable more residents to work within the parish. A bakery and fishmongers were among the suggestions made.
Any commercial development must be strictly limited to light industry and should necessitate no major road alterations.
A Register of Local Skills and Businesses available in the area should be published and provided free to all households, to encourage people to use local traders. This may lead to the creation of more jobs within the Parish as well as indicating where training in specific skills may be sought. This should also be made available on computer.
Support should be given to the Bude-Holsworthy Credit Union so that local people would in future have access to finance for business expansion or the creation of suitable new business ventures in the area.
There should be a drive to encourage more residents, particularly the young and unemployed, to join the existing North Devon Local Exchange Trading Scheme (LETS), since this would enable them to access goods and services without the need for sterling. This would stimulate the local economy, keep people gainfully employed and strengthen community bonds.
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