Small Business Channel Needs Assessment Report Short
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THE WATER COUNCILSMALL BUSINESS CHANNELNEEDS ASSESSMENT Advanced Student Apprenticeship Program and Outreach Services Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilINTRODUCTIONThrough a U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Innovation Cluster award, theSmall Business Channel promotes the growth and development of small businessesoperating in the water technology sector—first in the Midwest and then across the UnitedStates
The Water Council’s Small Business Channel connects small and medium sized watertechnology businesses with a range of services including: matchmaking with large andsmall business, connections to capital resources, training and workshop opportunities,export and procurement resources, mentoring, and access to the Global Water Port
Participating in a menu of Small Business Channel’s services enables small watertechnology businesses to shift from working in isolation to connectivity with the largerwater technology industry. The Small Business channel provides an opportunity for thesefirms to significantly enhance their credibility and network resulting in growth andprofitability
The Water Council, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Whitewater Institutefor Water Business, conducted a needs assessment in Winter 2015/2016 to gatherinformation on small business’ awareness of the Small Business Channel. Topicsexplored include business demographics, knowledge of the Small Business Channelresources and services, participation in Water Council activities and events, andprofessional and business development needs
PURPOSEThe purpose of the Needs Assessment report is to: 1. Provide information to Water Council and its stakeholders regarding the needs of small businesses operating in the water technology sector
2. Become a reference tool for the Water Council and its stakeholders when developing Small Business Channel strategic priorities and action plans
3. Provide baseline data for assessing impact and guiding development of new resources, programs, and/or services
DATA COLLECTIONThe 2015-2016 Small Business Channel Needs Assessment included a web-basedsurvey of all small businesses in the Channel’s database and individual (telephone)interviews. Karen Frost, the Water Council’s Small Business Program Manager andDenise Ehlen, the Director of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Institute for Water 1|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilBusiness developed the surveys and interview questions (included as APPENDICES 1to 3). Small Business Channel and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students providedadministrative, research, and reporting assistance. Data were collected betweenDecember 2015 and February 2016
ANALYSISThirty-Four companies responded to the initial survey. Respondents were not requiredto answer every question. The research team interviewed fourteen companies as part ofthe phase 2 follow up survey and/or telephone interviews. All respondents received thefollow up survey or participated in a telephone interview. Quantitative (survey) data werecompiled and are presented in the RESULTS section of this report. Qualitative (interview)data were reviewed for key themes; recurrence of themes determined the order of priorityservice areas included in this report. The themes that recurred most often (in smallbusinesses responses) were ranked highest. Qualitative data are also presented in theRESULTS section of this report
RESULTS: PHASE 1 [INITIAL SURVEY]SMALL BUSINESS [RESPONDENTS] PROFILE Year The year of business launch ranged from 1952-2014 (based Business on responses from the 22 respondents who chose to answer Was Started this question)
6% 3% CEO 12% VP Respondent’s Senior Executive 12% Role in the Supervisor or Staff 67% Company Employee Other 2|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilType of Business Respondents could choose from 16 different business types, including “other.” Of the offered options, no businesses self-identified as “mechanical: not covered in other categories,” “aquaculture components and systems well,” “residential water treatment components and systems water,” or “resource recovery systems and components.” In the “other” area, businesses ranged from portable water purification systems, commercial water well contractor, water energy generators, river / harbor sediment de- contamination, venture capital, metal fabricator, engineering, and assembly, and testing, measurement, and diagnostics
32% Other 12% Water Distribution Systems Industrial Water Treatment Components and/or 9% Systems Storm Water Collection, Treatment, and Reduction 9% Components and/or Management Systems Engineering, Planning, Software Services, and/or 9% Consultant for Water, Wastewater, Storm Water, Water Harvesting, and/or Sustainable Practices 6% Industrial Water Process Systems 6% Wastewater Treatment Systems and/or Components Water/Energy Use Efficiency Components and/or 6% Systems 3% Desalination Components and/or Systems 3% Water Harvesting Components and/or Systems 3% Well Monitoring Systems Water System Products--Non-mechanical, Not 3% Covered in Other Categories 3|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water Council Eleven of 32 respondents self-identified as minority-owned, veteran-owned, or woman-owned
Business Minority-Owned Ownership 36% Veteran-Owned 55% Woman-Owned 9% The majority of respondents (32) reported the current stage of their business. The majority of businesses classified as growth/survival (consistently adding customers/revenue), expansion/rapid growth (established within the market and looking for new opportunities), or mature (slower growth from top place in market)
3% 3% Developmental StageCurrent Stage of Business Start Up Stage 22% 31% Growth/Survival Stage Expansion/Rapid 41% Growth Stage Maturity Stage 4|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water Council Respondents were asked to select from a range of categories that best describes the business’ revenues for the 2015 fiscal year
Less than $100,000 13% Business $100,000 to Revenues $500,001 22% 47% $500,001 to 1,000,000 $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 6% Over $5,000,000 12% The researchers collected employee data including the number of employees in each of the following categories: full-time (more than 20 hours/week), part-time, not including interns (less than 20 hours/week), and interns
The majority of respondents (16 or 52%) employed five or less full-time staff
Number ofEmployees by 3% 10% 1 to 5 Category 6 to 10 13% 11 to 15 52% 16 to 20 3% 21 to 25 26 to 30 19% 30 + 5|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water Council Seventy-eight percent (23) of small water businesses reported retaining two or less part time employees
9% 4% 1 Part-Time 9% 2 Employees 48% 3 4 30% 5 Thirty-one small business professionals responded to this item and only eight (8) currently employ interns. The majority (6 or 74%) employed two (2) or less interns)
13% 1 Interns 13% 2 37% 3 4 37% 5 Hiring The needs assessment included questions regarding growth Employees plans for the next six months, including plans to hire within the employees (full- or part-time) Of the 33 responses, 87%Next Six Months indicated they plan to hire new employees
6|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water Council 13% Yes No Hiring Employees 87% Within theNext Six Months Twenty-Seven of the 28 respondents who said they would be hiring in the next six months noted the number they would be hiring. The number was between 1 and 5 for all companies, with two outliers: 20-25 and 10
The needs assessment also explored plans to recruit interns in the next six months. Of the 32 responses, the majority (19 or 59%) responded in the affirmative
Hiring Interns 41% Yes Within the 59% NoNext Six Months The majority (18) of the 19 who replied “Yes.” Indicated they would be hiring between one and three interns within the next six months
Twenty-four of the 34 respondents (71%) are currentlyWater Council members of The Water Council. The 10 non-members allMembership indicated interest in becoming members
7|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water Council Ninety-four percent (32) of respondents (34) indicated they are NOT currently participating in the Small Business Channel Program
6%Small Business Channel Yes Program Participation No 94% Twenty-nine of the 32 non-participants would like to learn more about the Small Business Channel
8|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilCONTRACTING The majority of water technology businesses responding to this survey (18 or 55%) do not currently contract with local (non- federal) and/or federal government agencies
Contracting Yes 45% 55% No The needs assessment included items related to small water businesses’ interest in learning more about contract opportunities. Of the 18 who chose to answer this question, 14 are interested in learning more about contract opportunities
Interest inLearning More 22%about Contract Opportunities Yes No 78% 9|Page Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilEXPORTING The majority of small businesses are NOT exporting a product
Currently Exporting a Product 42% Yes Outside 58% No the US The majority of small businesses DO plan to export a product
Plans to 32% Yes Export No 68% Of the 33 respondents, 19 (58%) were interested in export training, resources, and assistance
Interest intraining and/or professional development 42% Yes in exporting 58% No 10 | P a g e Small Business Channel Needs Assessment | The Water CouncilPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROFILE/NEEDS Sixty-one percent of respondents have NOT attended a Water Council workshop or other training (sponsored by the Water Council)
Attend a Water Council Workshop or 39% YesOther Training 61% No The majority of respondents (58%) learn about Water Council workshops, services, and or/other special events from direct email correspondence or emailed newsletters
Sources for Information 7% 2% Email/Email Newsletter Regarding Workshops, 9% WebsiteServices, and/orSpecial Events LinedIn Sponsored by 24% 58% the Water Other Social Media Council Other 11 | P a g e
For Water Business, conducted a needs assessment in Winter 2015/2016 to gather information on small business’ awareness of the Small Business Channel. Topics explored include business …
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a needs assessment report?
A needs assessment report is the collection of different information related to the needs of a certain school or community. This determines the hiatus between the standards and the situation. Purpose
What are the questions asked on the needs assessment survey?
The questions asked on the needs assessment survey depend on how the respondent feels about business. Examples of the questions include; What are the most recent business needs in your department? What strategic plan do you support and, will the program give remarkable results? What hindrances would you be subject to once you employ the plan?
What is a business needs assessment template?
This is where the business needs assessment template comes into its own. Once you’ve identified the gaps and have your list of business needs, the process then enables you to evaluate each need and set priorities.
What may be the methods used when creating a needs assessment?
Using your data, begin by making a conclusion. What may be the methods used when creating a needs assessment report? The methods may include gap analysis, observation, revalidation, self-assessment, peer review and more. They are often used to identify the needs as a group like in the case of a community.