1. Survey information

These questions are for Wave 81 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 17 April 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 March 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 March 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 March 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 March 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

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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 March 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 March 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 March 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 March 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?

  • Additional paperwork

  • Change in exchange rates

  • Change in transportation costs

  • Custom 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

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5. UKCA

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

Is your business aware that most CE marked products need to be UKCA marked from 1 January 2025?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

Is your business using, or intending to use, the UKCA marking by 1 January 2025?

  • 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 2025

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

  • Not sure

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6. Supply chains

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the EU in March 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 March 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 March 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 (Please describe)

  • Not sure

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in May 2023?

  • Business rates

  • Competition with other 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 (Please describe)

  • Not sure

  • No concerns for the business

In the last 12 months, has your business sold goods or services to customers in other UK nations?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In the last 12 months, which of the following challenges, if any, has your business experienced when selling goods or services to customers in other UK nations?

  • Challenges related to the Northern Ireland Protocol

  • Differences in rules or regulations

  • Lack of demand

  • Supply chain disruption

  • Transport capacity

  • Transport costs

  • Other (Please describe)

  • Not sure

  • Business did not experience any challenges

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7. Sending goods

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

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In March 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 March 2023:

  • Comments

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

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In March 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 GB

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from Northern Ireland to GB changed in March 2023:

  • Comments
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9. Industrial action

Was your business affected by industrial action in March 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 March 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

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10. 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