Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 22 January to 2 February 2024

These questions are for Wave 101 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 22 January 2024.

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 

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  

Has your business had any extra costs directly related to changes in export regulations due to the end of the EU transition period? 

• Costs increased but are now stable 

• Costs increased and are still increasing 

• Costs were stable but are now increasing 

• No cost increases experienced at any point 

• Not sure 

How did your business's exporting in December 2023 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 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 

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 (Please describe) 

• 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 

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  

Has your business had any extra costs directly related to changes in import regulations due to the end of the EU transition period? 

• Costs increased but are now stable 

• Costs increased and are still increasing 

• Costs were stable but are now increasing 

• No cost increases experienced at any point 

• Not sure 

How did your business's importing in December 2023 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 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 (Please describe) 

• Did not experience an increase in any importing challenges 

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 (Please describe)

• None of the above

Does your business intend to open any new branches or subsidiaries in the EU in the next 12 months? 

• Yes  

• No  

• Not sure 

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

• Not applicable 

Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in December 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

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

• Yes 

• No 

• Not sure  

• Not applicable 

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 remove working 

• Permanent redundancies 

• Relocation 

• Other (Please describe) 

• Not sure 

• Workforce will not be affected 

Does your business expect to make any of your workforce redundant over the next three months? 

• Yes 

• No 

• Not sure 

When do you expect these redundancies to happen? 

• Within the next 2 weeks 

• Between 2 weeks and 1 month 

• Between 1 and 3 months 

• Not sure 

Why is your business making these redundancies? 

• Automation 

• Business is closing or insolvent 

• Certain job roles are no longer required 

• Change in management 

• Relocation of the business 

• Site closures 

• To reduce staff costs 

• Other (Please describe) 

• Not sure 

• Prefer not to say 

On average, how did employees' hourly wages in December 2023 compare with employees' hourly wages in the previous calendar month? 

• Wages increased 

• Wages stayed the same 

• Wages decreased 

• Not sure 

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 (Please describe) 

• Not sure 

• Business has not been affected

How has the number of workers from within the EU at your business in December 2023 changed compared with this calendar month last year? 

• Number of workers from within the EU has increased  

• The business employs workers from within the EU, and the number has stayed the same  

• Number of workers from within the EU has decreased  

• Not relevant, as have not employed workers from within the EU  

• Not sure  

• Prefer not to say 

How has the number of workers from outside the EU at your business in December 2023 changed compared with this calendar month last year? 

• Number of workers from outside the EU has increased  

• The business employs workers from outside the EU, and the number has stayed the same  

• Number of workers from outside the EU has decreased 

• Not relevant, as have not employed workers from outside the EU  

• Not sure  

• Prefer not to say

Was your business affected by industrial action in December 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 December 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

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

• Comments