1. Survey information

These questions are for Wave 94 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 16 October 2023.

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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. 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 

How did your business's exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Exported more  
  • Exporting stayed the same 
  • Exported less 
  • Business was unable to export 
  • Not sure 

How did your business's cost of exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Cost increased 
  • Cost stayed the same 
  • Cost decreased 
  • Not sure 

How did the time spent on exporting in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Time spent increased 
  • Time spent stayed the same 
  • Time spent decreased 
  • Not sure 

Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in September 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 
  • 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 

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 
  • The 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
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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 

How did your business's importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Imported more 
  • Importing stayed the same 
  • Imported less 
  • Business was unable to import 
  • Not sure 

How did your business's cost of importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Cost increased 
  • Cost stayed the same 
  • Cost decreased 
  • Not sure 

How did the time spent on importing in September 2023 compare with this calendar month last year? 

  • Time spent increased 
  • Time spent stayed the same 
  • Time spent decreased 
  • Not sure 

Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in September 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 
  • 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
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5. Supply chains

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from the EU in September 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 the materials, goods or services needed 
  • Not applicable 

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in September 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 the materials, goods or services needed 
  • Not applicable 

Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in September 2023? 

  • 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 November 2023? 

  • Business rates 
  • Competition with other UK businesses 
  • 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 

In the last 12 months, has your business purchased goods or services from suppliers in other UK nations? 

  • Yes 
  • No 
  • Not sure 

In the last 12 months, which of the following goods or services has your business purchased from suppliers in other UK nations? 

  • Casual labour 
  • Financial services 
  • Professional services 
  • Finished goods 
  • Semi-finished or intermediate goods 
  • Raw materials 
  • Other 
  • Not sure
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6. Sending goods

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

  • Yes 
  • No 
  • Not sure 

In September 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 September 2023 

  • Comments 

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

  • Yes 
  • No 
  • Not sure 

In September 2023, how did the volume of goods your business sent from Northern Ireland to GB 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 Northern Ireland to GB changed in September 2023 

  • Comments
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8. Industrial action

Was your business affected by industrial action in September 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 September 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 
  • Not sure
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9. Comments

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

  • Comments
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Contact details for this Article

Gemma Rabaiotti
bics@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 1633 455 592