Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 28 December 2022 to 8 January 2023

These questions are for Wave 73 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 28th of December 2022.

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

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
• 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 December 2022 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 December 2022, 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

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 benefited 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

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
• 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 December 2022 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 December 2022, 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

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

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in December 2022?

• 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 December 2022?

• 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 February 2023?

• Business rates
• Competition
• 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

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

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

In December 2022, 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 December 2022

• Comments

Is your business intending to permanently close any business sites in the next three months?

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

Where in the UK are the sites that will permanently close in the next three months?

• 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

How do you expect closing these sites to affect your workforce?

• Decreased hours
• Increased hours
• Move to remote working
• Permanent redundancies
• Relocation
• Other
• Not sure
• Workforce will not be affected

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

Was your business affected by industrial action in December 2022?

• 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 December 2022?

• 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