1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 85 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 12 June 2023.
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys2. Trading status of your business
Which of the following statements best describes your business's trading status?
Currently fully trading
Currently partially trading
Paused trading but intends to restart in the next two weeks
Paused trading and does not intend to restart in the next two weeks
Permanently ceased trading
3. Exporting
Which of the following statements best describes your business's exporting status?
Exported in the last 12 months
Exported more than 12 months ago
Never exported but have goods or services that could be developed for export
Never exported and do not have goods or services suitable for export
Not sure
Has your business exported goods or services in the last 12 months?
Exported goods only
Exported services only
Exported both goods and services
Not sure
Have you changed where you have exported your goods or services to in the last three months?
Changed from EU to non-EU
Changed from non-EU to EU
Changed in a different way (please describe)
Not sure
No changes made
Where has your business exported goods or services to in the last three months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not exported in the last three months
Not sure
How did your business's exporting in May 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Exported more
Exporting stayed the same
Exported less
Business was unable to export
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in May 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Customs duties or levies
Destination countries changing their border restrictions
Disruption at UK borders
Finding information on how to export
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Reduced demand for products and services
Time taken for checks at the border
Work permit or visa restrictions, or lack of mutual recognition of professional qualifications
Other (please describe)
Did not experience an increase in any exporting challenges
What was the main cause of these exporting challenges?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
End of the EU transition period
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period
Other (please describe)
Not sure
How much disruption to your business have these challenges caused?
Major disruption
Moderate disruption
Minor disruption
No disruption
Not sure
Which of the following support options has your business benefited from, to help with exporting challenges?
Customs and tariffs
Export licences
Financial support
Finding new markets
Finding new overseas contacts or customers
Information on exporting
Legal support
Transport and distribution
Understanding markets and demand issues
Other (please describe)
None of the above
4. Importing
Which of the following statements best describes your business's importing status?
Imported in the last 12 months
Imported more than 12 months ago
Never imported
Not sure
Has your business imported goods or services in the last 12 months?
Imported goods only
Imported services only
Imported both goods and services
Not sure
Have you changed where you have sourced your imports of goods or services from in the last three months?
Changed from EU to non-EU suppliers
Changed from non-EU to EU suppliers
Changed in a different way (please describe)
Not sure
No changes made
Where has your business imported goods or services from in the last three months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not imported in the last three months
Not sure
How did your business's importing in May 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Imported more
Importing stayed the same
Imported less
Business was unable to import
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in May 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Customs duties or levies
Disruption at UK borders
Finding information on how to import
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Suppliers not customs ready
Time taken for checks at the border
Other (please describe)
Did not experience an increase in any importing challenges
What was the main cause of these importing challenges?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
End of the EU transition period
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period
Other (please describe)
Not sure
How much disruption to your business have these challenges caused?
Major disruption
Moderate disruption
Minor disruption
No disruption
Not sure
Which of the following support options would your business benefit from, to help with importing challenges?
Customs and tariffs
Finding new alternative supply chains
Finding new overseas contacts or customers
Import licences
Information on importing
Legal support
Transport and distribution
Understanding markets and demand issues
Other (please describe)
None of the above
5. Supply chains
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in May 2023?
Yes, the business was able to get the materials, goods or services it needed
Yes, but the business had to change suppliers or find alternative solutions
No, the business was not able to get materials, goods or services needed
Not applicable
Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in May 2023?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
What was the main reason for global supply chain disruption?
Conflict in Ukraine
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Increased costs
Shortage of hauliers and carriers
Shortage of materials
UK exiting the EU
Other transportation issues
Other (please describe)
Not sure
Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in July 2023?
Business rates
Competition with other UK businesses
Energy prices
Exchange rates
Falling demand of goods and services
Inflation of goods and service prices
Interest rates
Property rental costs
Supply chain disruption
Taxation
Other (please describe)
Not sure
No concerns for the business
6. Sending goods
Has your business sent goods from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In May 2023, how did the volume of goods your business sent from GB to Northern Ireland compare with the previous calendar month?
Volume increased
Volume stayed the same
Volume decreased
Stopped sending goods to Northern Ireland
Not sure
Not applicable
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland changed in May 2023:
- Comments
7. Workforce trends
Does your business expect to make any of your workforce redundant over the next three months?
Yes
No
Not sure
When do you expect these redundancies to happen?
Within the next 2 weeks
Between 2 weeks and 1 month
Between 1 and 3 months
Not sure
Why is your business making these redundancies?
Automation
Business is closing or insolvent
Certain job roles are no longer required
Change in management
Relocation of the business
Site closures
To reduce staff costs
Other (please describe)
Not sure
Prefer not to say
On average, how did employees' hourly wages in May 2023 compare with employees' hourly wages in the previous calendar month?
Wages increased
Wages stayed the same
Wages decreased
Not sure
Is your business currently experiencing a shortage of workers?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
How has the shortage of workers affected your business?
Employees working increased hours
Business had to pause trading entirely
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Business had to recruit temporary workers
Unable to meet demands
Other (please describe)
Not sure
Business has not been affected
8. Industrial action
Was your business affected by industrial action in May 2023?
Yes, the business was affected
No, the business was not affected
Not sure
Not applicable
Prefer not to say
How was your business affected by industrial action in May 2023?
Business was unable to obtain necessary goods
Business was unable to obtain necessary services
Business was unable to operate fully
Part or all of the workforce were directly involved in industrial action
Workforce had to change their working location
Workforce were unable to perform their roles
Other (please describe)
Not sure
9. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey: