1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 49 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 24 January 2022. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.
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
Where in the UK are your sites temporarily or permanently closed, if any?
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
Do not have any sites
None of our sites are temporarily or permanently closed
3. Turnover
How does your business's turnover over the last two weeks compare with 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 over the last two weeks?
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
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
4. Exporting
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 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 two months?
Changed from EU to non-EU
Changed from non-EU to EU
Changed in a different way
No changes made
Not sure
Where has your business exported goods or services to in the last two months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not exported in the last two months
Not sure
How does your business's exporting over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Exporting more than normal
Exporting as normal
Exporting, but less than normal
Unable to export in the last month
Not sure
How does the cost of exporting over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Cost has increased
Cost has stayed the same
Cost has decreased
Not sure
How does the time spent on exporting over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Time spent has increased
Time spent has stayed the same
Time spent has decreased
Not sure
Have you experienced any of the following challenges with exporting goods or services over the last month?
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 over the last month
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
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
None of the above
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
5. Importing
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
Have you changed where you have imported your goods or services to in the last two months?
Changed from EU to non-EU
Changed from non-EU to EU
Changed in a different way
No changes made
Not sure
Where has your business imported goods or services to in the last two months?
EU only
Non-EU only
Both EU and non-EU
Not exported in the last two months
Not sure
How does your business's importing over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Importing more than normal
Importing as normal
Importing, but less than normal
Unable to import in the last month
Not sure
How does the cost of importing over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Cost has increased
Cost has stayed the same
Cost has decreased
Not sure
How does the time spent on importing over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Time spent has increased
Time spent has stayed the same
Time spent has decreased
Not sure
Have you experienced any of the following challenges with importing over the last month?
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 over the last month
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
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
None of the above
6. Production and suppliers
Has your business made any changes to how it conducts international trade in services due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or the end of the EU transition period?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Has your business experienced global supply chain disruption over the last month?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
7. Access to financial support
Has your business received any government-backed loans or finance agreements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?
Yes
No
Not sure
Has your business received payment from any of the following grants or schemes in the last two weeks?
Additional Restrictions Grant
COVID-19 Business Ventilation Fund
Kickstart Job Scheme for young people
Recovery Loan Scheme
Sector-specific grant
Small business grant
Super-deduction
Other
Not sure
Not received any of these grants in the last month
How long do you think your business's cash reserves will last?
Less than 1 month
1 to 3 months
4 to 6 months
More than 6 months
Not sure
Business has no cash reserves
How much confidence does your business have that it will survive the next three months?
High confidence
Moderate confidence
Low confidence
No confidence
Not sure
Over the last month, how did your business's debt repayments compare with turnover?
Repayments were more than 100% of turnover
Repayments were between 50% and 100% of turnover
Repayments were between 20% and 50% of turnover
Repayments were up to 20% of turnover
Not sure
Not applicable
How much confidence does your business have that it will meet its current debt obligations?
High confidence
Moderate confidence
Low confidence
No confidence
Not sure
Do not have any debt obligations
What is your business's risk of insolvency?
Severe risk
Moderate risk
Low risk
No risk
The business is insolvent
Not sure
8. Operational performance
In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your business's workforce were:
Using a hybrid model of working
Working from home
Working from a designated workspace
On sick leave, or not working due to coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, self-isolation or quarantine
Made permanently redundant
Other
Is your business using, or intending to use, increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Why is your business using, or intending to use, increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Ability to better match jobs to skills
Ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool in the UK
Ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool internationally
Improved staff wellbeing
Increased productivity
Reduced carbon emissions
Reduced overheads
Reduced sickness absence
Reduced wage bill
Other
Not sure
Why is your business not intending to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Concerns with integrating new starters into the workplace
Costs of employee equipment
Difficulties managing staff remotely
Negative impact on working culture
Not suitable for our business
Reduced communication
Reduced productivity
Reduced reliability and retention of staff
Security concerns
Other
Not sure
When do you expect your workforce to return to their normal place of work?
Within the next month
Between 1 and 3 months
Between 4 and 6 months
More than 6 months
Workforce already returned to their normal place of work
Not expecting workforce to return to their normal place of work
Not sure
Not applicable
What percentage of your workforce do you expect to return to their normal place of work in the time period you selected?
Above 75% of the workforce
Between 50-75% of the workforce
Between 25-49% of the workforce
Less than 25% of the workforce
Not sure
How do existing employees' hourly wages over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Wages are higher
Wages have not been affected
Wages are lower
Not sure
Not applicable
How do new employees' hourly wages over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Wages are higher
Wages have not been affected
Wages are lower
Not sure
Not applicable
Is your business using, or intending to use, any of the following safety measures in the workplace?
Adjusted working practices
Carbon dioxide monitors
Customer coronavirus (COVID-19) checks
Hygiene measures
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Social distancing
Temperature checks
Other
Not sure
None of the above
Has your business experienced a change in the number of cancellations from customers over the last month?
Cancellations have increased
Cancellations have stayed the same
Cancellations have decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
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
Had to pause trading entirely
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Had to recruit temporary workers
Unable to meet demands
Other
Not sure
My business has not been affected
9. Net-zero carbon emissions
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 electrifying 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
Which of the following actions, if any, does your business intend to take in the next 12 months to reduce carbon emissions?
Adjusting heating and cooling systems
Electrifying your vehicle fleet
Installing a smart meter
Installing charging points
Installing your own renewable electrifying or heating
Insulating your buildings
Introducing a cycle to work scheme
Switching to LED bulbs
Other
Not sure
Not intending to reduce emissions in the next 12 months
10. 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