1. Survey information

These questions are for Wave 111 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 17 June 2024.

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2. 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

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3. Stock

Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

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4. Capital expenditure

What are your business's expectations for capital expenditure between July and September 2024?

-   Capital expenditure will increase

-   Capital expenditure will stay the same

-   Capital expenditure will decrease

-   Not sure

-   Not applicable

Why is your business expecting to authorise capital expenditure between July and September 2024?

-   For replacements

-   To expand capacity

-   To increase efficiency

-   To provide new services

-   To reach new customers

-   To use new technology

-   Other

-   Not sure

-   Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, do you expect to limit your business's capital expenditure between July and September 2024?

-   Inability to raise external finance

-   Inadequate return on proposed investment

-   Shortage of internal finance

-   Shortage of labour

-   Uncertainty about demand or business prospects

-   Other

-   Not sure

-   Not expecting any limits to capital expenditure

Did your business invest in plant and machinery between April and June 2024?

-   Yes

-   No

-   Not sure

Did your business use the full expensing capital allowance on qualifying plant and machinery investments between April and June 2024?

-   Yes

-   No

-   Not sure

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5. Environment

Is your business concerned about the impact climate change may have on the business?

  • Yes, very concerned

  • Yes, somewhat concerned

  • No, not concerned

  • Not sure

Which of the following actions, if any, has your business taken to protect the environment?

  • Has a climate change strategy

  • Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target

  • Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target which includes supply chain

  • Has a nature or biodiversity strategy

  • Has a nature or biodiversity target

  • Has a nature or biodiversity target which includes supply chain

  • Monitors climate-related risks

  • Monitors nature or biodiversity-related risks

  • Publishes an annual sustainability report

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • None of the above

Which of the following actions, if any, have you taken to reduce your business's carbon emissions?

  • Adjusting heating and cooling systems

  • Electrifying your vehicle fleet

  • Installing a smart meter

  • Installing charging points

  • Installing your own renewable electricity or heating

  • Insulating your buildings

  • Introducing a cycle to work scheme

  • Switching to LED bulbs

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • No actions have been taken to reduce emissions

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6. Technology

Which of the following artificial intelligence technologies, if any, does your business currently use?

  • Autonomous vehicles

  • Data processing using machine learning

  • Image processing using machine learning

  • Robotics

  • Text generation using Large Language Models

  • Visual content creation

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Business does not currently use artificial intelligence technologies

What does your business currently use artificial intelligence technologies for?

  • Develop a new product or service

  • Explore a new market

  • Improve business operations

  • Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

How did your business adopt these artificial intelligence technologies?

  • Developed in-house

  • Outsourced to external providers or third parties

  • Through purchase of external software or ready-to-use

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

Which of the following artificial intelligence technologies, if any, does your business plan to adopt within the next 3 months?

  • Autonomous vehicles

  • Data processing using machine learning

  • Image processing using machine learning

  • Robotics

  • Text generation using Large Language Models

  • Visual content creation

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Business does not plan to adopt artificial intelligence technologies in the next 3 months

What does your business plan to adopt artificial intelligence technologies for?

  • Develop a new product or service

  • Explore a new market

  • Improve business operations

  • Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

In the last 3 months, which, if any, of the following factors have prevented or delayed your business in the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies?

  • Cost

  • Difficulty identifying business use cases

  • Employee concern about any potential impact of using artificial intelligence technologies

  • Level of expertise in artificial intelligence

  • Product or service availability

  • Security concerns

  • Uncertainty about government regulations or industry standards

  • Other

  • Not sure

  • Business has not attempted to use artificial intelligence technologies

  • Business has not been prevented or experienced delays in the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies

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7. Comments

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

  • Comments
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Manylion cyswllt ar gyfer y Erthygl

Business Insights and Conditions Survey team (BICS)
bics@ons.gov.uk
Ffôn: +44 1633 456417