Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 20 September 2021 to 3 October 2021

These questions are for wave 40 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 20th of September. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.

Which of the following statements best describes your business's trading status?

• Currently trading and have been for more than the last two weeks

• Started trading within the last two weeks after a pause in 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

Where in the UK are your business's sites located?

• Northern Ireland

• Scotland

• Wales

• East of England

• East Midlands

• Greater London

• North East of England

• North West of England

• South East of England

• South West of England

• West Midlands

• Yorkshire and The Humber

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Where in the UK are your sites temporarily or permanently closed?

• Northern Ireland

• Scotland

• Wales

• East of England

• East Midlands

• Greater London

• North East of England

• North West of England

• South East of England

• South West of England

• West Midlands

• Yorkshire and The Humber

• Not sure

• None of our sites are temporarily or permanently closed

How does your business's turnover for the last two weeks, compare to normal expectations for this time of year?

• Turnover has increased by more than 50%

• Turnover has increased between 20% and 50%

• Turnover has increased by up to 20%

• Turnover has not been affected

• Turnover has decreased by up to 20%

• Turnover has decreased between 20% and 50%

• Turnover has decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

What was the main reason for this change to your business's turnover in the last two weeks?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• End of the EU transition period

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period

• Other

• Not sure

What are your expectations about turnover for the next two weeks?

• Expect turnover to substantially increase

• Expect turnover to increase a little

• Expect turnover to stay the same

• Expect turnover to decrease a little

• Expect turnover to substantially decrease

• Not sure                 

In the last two weeks, how has your business's profits compared with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Profits have increased by more than 50%

• Profits have increased by between 20% and 50%

• Profits have increased by up to 20%

• Profits have stayed the same

• Profits have decreased by up to 20%

• Profits have decreased by between 20% and 50%

• Profits have decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Which of the following best describes your business's exporting status?

• Exported in the last 12 months

• Exported more than 12 months ago

• Never exported and do not have goods or services suitable for export

• Never exported but have goods or services that could be developed 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

Where has your business exported goods or services to in the last two weeks?

• EU only

• Non-EU only

• Both EU and non-EU

• Not exported in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you changed where you have exported your goods or services to in the last two weeks?

• Changed from EU to non-EU

• Changed from non-EU to EU

• Changed in a different way

• No changes made

• Not sure

How does your business's exporting in the last two weeks compare to normal expectations for this time of year?

• Exporting more than normal

• Exporting as normal

• Exporting, but less than normal

• Not been able to export in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you experienced any of the following challenges with exporting goods or services in the last two weeks?

• Additional paperwork

• Basing some staff in an EU member state to be allowed to work

• Change in transportation costs

• Closure of infrastructure used to export goods or services

• 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 any challenges with exporting

What was the main cause of these exporting challenges?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• End of the EU transition period

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period

• Other

• Not sure

How much disruption to your business have these challenges caused?

• Severe disruption

• Moderate disruption

• Low 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

• None of the above

Let us know anything else that will help us understand your business's exporting in the last two weeks

What are your expectations about your business's sales from exports in the next 12 months?

• Export sales will substantially increase

• Export sales will increase a little

• Export sales will stay the same

• Export sales will decrease a little

• Export sales will substantially decrease

• 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

• My 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 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

Where has your business imported goods or services from in the last two weeks?

• EU only

• Non-EU only

• Both EU and non-EU

• Not imported in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you changed where you have sourced your imports of goods or services from in the last two weeks?

• Changed from EU to non-EU suppliers

• Changed from non-EU to EU suppliers

• Changed in a different way

• No changes made

• Not sure

How does your business's importing in the last two weeks compare to normal expectations for this time of year?

• Importing more than normal

• Importing as normal

• Importing, but less than normal

• Not been able to import in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you experienced any of the following challenges with importing over the last two weeks?

• Additional paperwork

• Change in transportation costs

• Closure of infrastructure used to import goods or services

• Customs duties or levies

• Destination countries changing their border restrictions

• Disruption at UK borders

• Finding information on how to import

• Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment

• Suppliers not continuing to trade

• Suppliers not customs ready

• Time taken for checks at the border

• Other

• Did not experience any challenges with importing

What was the main cause of these importing challenges?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• End of the EU transition period

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period

• Other

• Not sure

How much disruption to your business have these challenges caused?

• Severe disruption

• Moderate disruption

• Low 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

• None of the above

• Transport and distribution

• Understanding markets and demand issues

• Other

Let us know anything else that will help us understand your business's importing in the last two weeks

Does your business manufacture, import, or distribute products that require either a CE marking or the new UKCA marking?

• Yes, we manufacture products that need a CE or UKCA marking

• Yes, we import products that need a CE or UKCA marking

• Yes, we distribute products that need a CE or UKCA marking

• Not sure

• No, we do not manufacture, import or distribute products that need a CE or UKCA marking

Are you aware that most CE marked products need to be UKCA marked from 1 January 2023?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Is your business using, or intending to use, the UKCA marking by 1 January 2023?

• Already using UKCA marking

• Not aware of, or do not know how to meet, requirements for the UKCA

• Not using the UKCA marking, but plan to by 1 January 2023

• Will not use UKCA marking, as not relevant to our products or business

• Not sure

How did the prices of materials, goods or services bought by your business change in the last two weeks, compared with normal price fluctuations?

• Prices increased more than normal

• Prices did not change any more than normal

• Prices decreased more than normal

• Some prices increased, some prices decreased

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Please give more details about the prices of materials, goods or services that changed

How did the prices of goods or services sold by your business change in the last two weeks, compared with normal fluctuations?

• Prices increased more than normal

• Prices did not change any more than normal

• Prices decreased more than normal

• Some prices increased, some prices decreased

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Please give more details about how prices changed

Has your business had an increase in demand for good or services sold in the last two weeks?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Which goods or services have had an increase in demand?

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

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

What route did your business mainly use, over the last 12 months, to send goods from GB to Northern Ireland?

• From GB direct to Northern Ireland

• From GB via Republic of Ireland

• Other

• Not sure

Has your business sent, or intended to send, goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last two weeks?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, has the volume of goods your business would normally send from GB to Northern Ireland changed?

• Volume has increased

• Volume has stayed the same

• Volume has decreased

• Have stopped sending goods to Northern Ireland

• Not sure

• Not applicable

What were the reasons for this change in the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• Decreased demand for goods

• Increased costs

• Increased delays

• Other

• Not sure

• None of the above

Has your business changed the main route for sending goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last two weeks?

• Changed to go via Republic of Ireland

• Changed to go direct to Northern Ireland

• No change made

• Not sure

What were the reasons for this change in route?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• Increased costs

• Increased delays

• Other

• Not sure

• Route has not been affected

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

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Has your business sent, or intended to send, goods from Northern Ireland to GB in the last two weeks?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, has the volume of goods your business would normally send from Northern Ireland to GB changed?

• Volume has increased

• Volume has stayed the same

• Volume has decreased

• Have stopped sending goods to GB

• Not sure

• Not applicable

What were the reasons for this change in the volume of goods sent from Northern Ireland to GB?

• The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• Decreased demand for goods

• Increased costs

• Increased delays

• Other

• Not sure

• None of the above

In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your business's workforce were:

• On partial or full furlough leave

• Mainly working at the same place they were working before the pandemic

• Mainly working from home, instead of where they were working before the pandemic

• On sick leave or not working due to coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, self-isolation or quarantine

• Made permanently redundant

• Other

Of those partially and fully furloughed, what percentage are fully furloughed?

• Approximate percentage of furloughed staff who are 'fully furloughed'

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your workforce have:

• Moved from homeworking, back fully to where they were working before the pandemic

• Moved from fully homeworking to a hybrid model of working

• Moved from full or partial furlough to a hybrid model of working

• Moved from full or partial furlough to fully working from home

• Moved from full or partial furlough, back fully to where they were working before the pandemic

In the next two weeks, approximately what percentage of your workforce will:

• Move from homeworking, back fully to where they were working before the pandemic

• Move from fully homeworking to a hybrid model of working

• Move from full or partial furlough to a hybrid model of working

• Move from full or partial furlough to fully working from home

• Move from full or partial furlough, back fully to where they were working before the pandemic

Has your business furloughed any of its workforce since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Has your business provided additional training or support for your furloughed workforce after their return to work?

• Yes, my business has provided this

• No, but my business intends to provide this

• No, my business has not provided this and does not intend to

• Not sure

Is your business using, or intending to use, any of the following safety measures in the workplace?

• Adjusted working practices

• Carbon dioxide monitors

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations

• Hygiene measures

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Social distancing

• Temperature checks

• Other

• Not sure

• None of the above

Is your business providing regular coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for its workforce?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

What percentage of your workforce are receiving regular coronavirus (COVID-19) testing?

• Approximate percentage of your workforce receiving regular testing

• Not sure

Does your business expect to make any of your workforce redundant over the next three months?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Approximately what percentage of your workforce do you expect to be made redundant over the next three months?

• Approximate percentage of redundancies in the next three months

• 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

• Phasing out of furlough scheme

• Relocation of the business

• Site closures

• To reduce staff costs

• Other

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

How does your business's staff turnover for the last month, compare to normal expectations for this time of year?

• Staff turnover has increased by more than 50%

• Staff turnover has increased between 20% and 50%

• Staff turnover has increased by up to 20%

• Staff turnover has not been affected

• Staff turnover has decreased by up to 20%

• Staff turnover has decreased between 20% and 50%

• Staff turnover has decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How does your business's ability to fill vacancies in the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Vacancies were easier to fill

• No difference in the ability to fill vacancies

• Vacancies were more difficult to fill

• Did not have any vacancies to fill

• Not sure

Why did your business find filling vacancies more difficult over the last month compared with normal expectations for this of year?

• Business cannot offer an attractive pay package to applicants

• Increased number of vacancies due to furloughed workers leaving

• Increased number of vacancies for other reasons

• Lack of qualified applicants for the roles on offer

• Low number of applications for the roles on offer

• Reduced number of applicants aged 16 to 24 years

• Reduced number of EU applicants

• Other

• Not sure

How has the number of workers from within the EU at your business changed, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Number of workers from within the EU has increased

• We employ workers from within the EU, and the number has stayed the same

• Number of workers from within the EU has decreased

• Not relevant, as have not employed workers from within the EU

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

How has the number of workers from outside the EU at your business changed, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Number of workers from outside the EU has increased

• We employ workers from outside the EU, and the number has stayed the same

• Number of workers from outside the EU has decreased

• Not relevant, as have not employed workers from outside the EU

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

If your business has employees working abroad, where are they based?

• Within the EU

• Outside of the EU

• Both within and outside the EU

• Not sure

• We do not have employees working abroad

Is your business collecting, or intending to collect, contact details for the purpose of contact tracing at your sites?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Which of the following methods is your business using, or intending to use, to collect details for contact tracing?

• Advanced booking systems

• Commercial QR codes

• Digital records

• Paper records

• Official NHS QR code posters

• Other

• Not sure

Why is your business not intending to collect details for contact tracing?

• Not relevant to my business

• Not a legal requirement for my industry

• Not enough people use the NHS COVID-19 app

• Our business does not want to take part

• Unsure of how the data is used or stored

• Other

• Not sure

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

• Comments