Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 16 October to 29 October 2023

These questions are for Wave 94 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 16 October 2023.

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

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 

How did your business's exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Exported more  
• Exporting stayed the same 
• Exported less 
• Business was unable to export 
• Not sure 

How did your business's cost of exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Cost increased 
• Cost stayed the same 
• Cost decreased 
• Not sure 

How did the time spent on exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Time spent increased 
• Time spent stayed the same 
• Time spent decreased 
• Not sure 

Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in September 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 
• 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 
• Not sure 

Does your business currently use rules of origin to access lower or zero tariffs on exports? 

• Yes, to EU countries 
• Yes, to non-EU countries 
• Yes, to both EU and non-EU countries 
• No 
• Not sure 

How has using rules of origin when exporting to the EU changed the amount of administration for your business? 

• Administration has increased 
• Administration has stayed the same 
• Administration has decreased 
• Not sure 

Why does your business not currently use rules of origin to access lower or zero tariffs? 

• Administrative costs of rules of origin outweigh the potential tariff saving 
• Exports do not meet rules of origin requirements 
• Lack of understanding, staffing or expertise to use rules of origin 
• The business has attempted to use rules of origin but has been unsuccessful 
• The EU does not charge tariffs on the goods the business exports 
• Other 
• Not sure 
• Not applicable

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 

How did your business's importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Imported more 
• Importing stayed the same 
• Imported less 
• Business was unable to import 
• Not sure 

How did your business's cost of importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Cost increased 
• Cost stayed the same 
• Cost decreased 
• Not sure 

How did the time spent on importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

• Time spent increased 
• Time spent stayed the same 
• Time spent decreased 
• Not sure 

Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in September 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 
• 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 
• Not sure

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from the EU in September 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 the materials, goods or services needed 
• Not applicable 

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in September 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 the materials, goods or services needed 
• Not applicable 

Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in September 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 
• Not sure 

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in November 2023? 

• Business rates 
• Competition with other UK businesses 
• Energy prices 
• Exchange rates 
• Falling demand of goods and services 
• Inflation of goods and services prices 
• Interest rates 
• Property rental costs 
• Supply chain disruption 
• Taxation 
• Other 
• Not sure 
• No concerns for the business 

In the last 12 months, has your business purchased goods or services from suppliers in other UK nations? 

• Yes 
• No 
• Not sure 

In the last 12 months, which of the following goods or services has your business purchased from suppliers in other UK nations? 

• Casual labour 
• Financial services 
• Professional services 
• Finished goods 
• Semi-finished or intermediate goods 
• Raw materials 
• Other 
• Not sure

Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months? 

• Yes 
• No 
• Not sure 

In September 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 September 2023 

• Comments 

Has your business sent goods from Northern Ireland to GB in the last 12 months?  

• Yes 
• No 
• Not sure 

In September 2023, how did the volume of goods your business sent from Northern Ireland to GB 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 Northern Ireland to GB changed in September 2023 

• Comments

Which, if any, of the following skills has your business had a high demand for in the last 12 months? 

• Advanced digital skills 
• Basic digital skills 
• Customer service skills 
• Management or leadership skills 
• Manual skills 
• Transferable skills 
• Other 
• None of the above 

Which, if any, of the following skills does your workforce require extra support or training in? 

• Advanced digital skills 
• Basic digital skills 
• Customer service skills 
• Management or leadership skills 
• Manual skills 
• Transferable skills 
• Other 
• None of the above 

On average, how did employees' hourly wages in September 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? 

• Business had to pause trading entirely 
• Business had to recruit temporary workers 
• Employees working increased hours 
• Had to pause trading of some of the business 
• Unable to meet demands 
• Other 
• Not sure 
• Business has not been affected

Was your business affected by industrial action in September 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 September 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 
• Not sure

Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey: 

• Comments