1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 46 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 13th of December 2021. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.
Back to table of contents2. Trading status
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. Supply chains
Has your business made changes to supply chains due to the end of the EU transition period?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
In which of the following ways has your business changed supply chains due to the end of the EU transition period?
Expanding to different modes of freight
Increasing the diversity in suppliers
Moving the supply chain away from the short straits crossings
Using more UK suppliers
Using more EU suppliers
Using more non-EU suppliers
Other
Not sure
Has your business had any extra costs due to the end of the EU transition period?
Additional transportation costs
Costs associated with changing supply chains
Costs associated with the storage of goods
Costs due to increased red tape
Costs incurred from wasted goods
Cost of setting up EU subsidiaries
Extra costs in the prices of goods and services imported
Extra tariffs or taxes
Other
Not sure
No extra costs
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from the EU over the last month?
Yes, the business has been 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 has not been 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 over the last month?
Yes, the business has been 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 has not been able to get the materials, goods or services needed
Not applicable
How much disruption to your business have these challenges caused?
Major disruption
Moderate disruption
Minor disruption
No disruption
Not sure
Does your business intend to open any new branches or subsidiaries in the EU in the next 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Has your business been affected by recent increases in wholesale gas prices?
Yes, production has been affected
Yes, suppliers have been affected
Yes, both production and suppliers have been affected
No, my business has not been affected
Not sure
Not applicable
4. Sending goods to or from Northern Ireland
Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
What route did your business mainly use, over the last 12 months, to send goods from GB to Northern Ireland?
From GB direct to Northern Ireland
From GB via Republic of Ireland
Other
Not sure
Over the last month, has the volume of goods your business would normally send from GB to Northern Ireland changed?
Volume has increased
Volume has stayed the same
Volume has decreased
Stopped sending goods to Northern Ireland
Not sure
Not applicable
What were the reasons for this change in the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland?
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Decreased demand for goods
Increased costs
Increased delays
Other
Not sure
None of the above
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland changed over the last month.
Has your business sent goods from Northern Ireland to GB in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Over the last month, has the volume of goods your business would normally send from Northern Ireland to GB changed?
Volume has increased
Volume has stayed the same
Volume has 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 over the last month.
Back to table of contents5. Stock
How do your business's stock levels over the last month compare to normal expectations for this time of year?
Stock levels are higher than normal
Stock levels have not changed
Stock levels are lower than normal
Not sure
Not applicable
Over the last month, what has had the greatest impact to your business's stock levels?
The 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
Please explain this difference in stock levels in more detail.
Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?
Yes
No
Not sure
Where are you sourcing these stockpiled goods or materials from?
UK suppliers
EU suppliers
Non-EU suppliers
Not sure
Which of the following goods or materials are you stockpiling?
Agricultural products
Chemicals
Food
Manufacturing parts
Metals and materials
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Pharmaceuticals
Other consumer goods
Other
Not sure
Where are the stockpiled goods or materials being stored?
UK
EU countries
Non-EU countries
Not sure
6. UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking
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
Are you 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
7. Prices of materials, goods and services
How did the prices of materials, goods or services bought by your business change over the last month, compared with normal price fluctuations?
Prices increased more than normal
Prices did not change any more than normal
Prices decreased more than normal
Some prices increased, some prices decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
Please explain the reason for selecting your previous answer.
How did the prices of goods or services sold by your business change over the last month, compared with normal price fluctuations?
Prices increased more than normal
Prices did not change any more than normal
Prices decreased more than normal
Some prices increased, some prices decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
Please explain the reason for selecting your previous answer.
Has your business had an increase in demand for goods or services sold over the last month?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
8. Operational performance
In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your business's workforce were:
Using a hybrid model of working
Working from home
Working from a designated workspace
On sick leave or not working due to coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, self-isolation or quarantine
Made permanently redundant
Other
Is your business using, or intending to use, any of the following safety measures in the workplace?
Adjusted working practices
Carbon dioxide monitors
Customer coronavirus (COVID-19) checks
Hygiene measures
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Social distancing
Temperature checks
Other
Not sure
None of the above
Is your business providing regular coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for its workforce?
Yes
No
Not sure
What percentage of your workforce are receiving regular coronavirus (COVID-19) testing?
Approximate percentage of your workforce receiving regular testing
Not sure
Has your business experienced a change in the number of cancellations from customers over the last month?
Cancellations have increased
Cancellations have stayed the same
Cancellations have decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
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
Does your business expect to make any of your workforce redundant over the next three months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Approximately what percentage of your workforce do you expect to be made redundant over the next three months?
Approximate percentage of redundancies in the next three months
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
Had to pause trading entirely
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Had to recruit temporary workers
Unable to meet demands
Other
Not sure
My business has not been affected
How does your business's ability to fill vacancies over the last month compare with normal expectations for this time of year?
Vacancies were easier to fill
No difference in the ability to fill vacancies
Vacancies were more difficult to fill
Did not have any vacancies to fill
Not sure
Why did your business find filling vacancies more difficult, over the last month, compared with normal expectations for this of year?
Business cannot offer an attractive pay package to applicants
Increased number of vacancies due to furloughed workers leaving
Increased number of vacancies for other reasons
Lack of qualified applicants for the roles on offer
Low number of applications for the roles on offer
Reduced number of applicants aged 16 to 24 years
Reduced number of applicants aged over 50 years
Reduced number of EU applicants
Other
Not sure
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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