1. Survey information

These questions are for Wave 79 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 20 March 2023. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

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

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

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 February 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 February 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 benefitted 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

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

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 February 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 February 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

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

5. Supply chains

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in February 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 February 2023?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in April 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

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

6. Sending goods

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

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In February 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 February 2023:

  • Comments
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

8. Industrial action

Was your business affected by industrial action in February 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 February 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

Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

9. Comments

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

  • Comments
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys

Manylion cyswllt ar gyfer y Erthygl

Gemma Rabaiotti
bics@ons.gov.uk
Ffôn: +44 1633 455592