1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 68 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 17th of October 2022. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.
Back to table of contents2. 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
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
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 September 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 September 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 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
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
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 September 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 September 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
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 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
6. Supply chains
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in September 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 September 2022?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in November 2022?
Business rates
Competition
Energy prices
Exchange rates
Inflation of goods and services prices
Interest rates
Supply chain disruption
Taxation
Other
Not sure
No concerns for the business
What actions, if any, has your business taken to reduce energy costs in the last three months?
Changed to more energy-efficient electrical equipment
Reduced or simplified goods or services
Reduced the number of days the business trades in a week by one day
Reduced the number of days the business trades in a week by two or more days
Reduced the number of hours the business trades in a week, but the number of days the business trades in a week remained as usual
Switched electrical equipment to standby or off more than usual when not in use
Switched energy suppliers
Temporarily closed a business site
Undertaken an energy audit
Other
Not sure
Business has not taken action to reduce energy consumption
What actions, if any, does your business plan to take to reduce your energy costs in November 2022?
Change to more energy-efficient electrical equipment
Reduce or simplify goods or services
Reduce the number of days the business trades in a week by one day
Reduce the number of days the business trades in a week by two or more days
Reduce the number of hours the business trades in a week, but the number of days the business trades in a week remain as usual
Switch electrical equipment to standby or off more than usual when not in use
Switch energy suppliers
Temporarily close a business site
Undertake an energy audit
Other
Not sure
Business does not plan to reduce energy consumption
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
Not sure
Business did not experience any challenges
7. Sending goods
Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In September 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 September 2022
- Comments
8. Workforce trends
On average, how did employees hourly wages in September 2022 compare with employees hourly wages in the previous calendar month?
Wages increased
Wages stayed the same
Wages decreased
Not sure
9. Industrial action
Was your business affected by industrial action in September 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 September 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
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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