Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey questions: 14 December 2020 to 28 December 2020

These questions are for wave 20 of the fortnightly Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 14th December.

Which of the following statements best describes your business's trading status?

• Currently trading and has been for more than the last two weeks

• Started trading within the last two weeks after a pause in 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

Where in the UK are your business's sites located?

• 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

• Not applicable

Where in the UK are your sites temporarily or permanently closed?

• 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

• None of our sites are temporarily or permanently closed

Why have these sites temporarily or permanently closed?

• Required to temporarily close due to lockdown regulations

• Insufficient footfall or customer interest

• Not financially viable to keep open

• Other

• Not sure

Are you expecting to temporarily or permanently close any sites in the next two weeks?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Where in the UK are you expecting your sites to temporarily or permanently close in the next two weeks?

• 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

• None of our sites would temporarily or permanently close

Why are you expecting these sites to temporarily or permanently close?

• Required to temporarily close due to lockdown regulations

• Insufficient customer interest or footfall

• Not financially viable to keep open

• Other

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, how has the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected your business's turnover, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Turnover has increased by more than 50%

• Turnover has increased between 20% and 50%

• Turnover has increased by up to 20%

• Turnover has not been affected

• Turnover has decreased by up to 20%

• Turnover has decreased between 20% and 50%

• Turnover has decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

Please explain in more detail how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected turnover in the last two weeks

What are your expectations about turnover in the next two weeks?

• Expect turnover to substantially increase

• Expect turnover to increase a little

• Expect turnover to stay the same

• Expect turnover to decrease a little

• Expect turnover to substantially decrease

• Not sure                 

In the last two weeks, how has the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected your business's profits, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Profits have increased by more than 50%

• Profits have increased by between 20% and 50%

• Profits have increased by up to 20%

• Profits have stayed the same

• Profits have decreased by up to 20%

• Profits have decreased by between 20% and 50%

• Profits have decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Has your business exported goods or services in the last 12 months?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Which of the following statements applies to your business regarding exporting?

• Exported more than 12 months ago

• Never exported and do not have a product suitable for export

• Never exported but have a product that could be developed for export

• Not sure

Has your business exported goods or services in the last two weeks?

• Yes, to EU only

• Yes, to non-EU only

• Yes, to both EU and non-EU

• No

• Not sure

How has your business's exporting of goods or services been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the last two weeks?

• Exporting more than normal

• Exporting has not been affected

• Exporting, but less than normal

• Not been able to export in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you experienced any of the following challenges with exporting over the last two weeks?

• Coronavirus-related transport restrictions

• Increases in transportation costs

• Closure of infrastructure used to export goods or services

• Destination countries changing their border restrictions

• Other

• Did not experience any challenges with exporting

Which of the following support options would your business benefit from, to help with exporting challenges?

• Financial support

• Understanding markets and demand issues

• Finding new markets

• Finding new overseas contacts or customers

• Transport and distribution

• Legal issues

• Customs and tariffs

• Export licences

• Other

• None of the above

Let us know anything else that will help us understand your business's exporting in the last two weeks

What are your expectations about your sales from exports in the next 12 months?

• Export sales will substantially increase

• Export sales will increase a little

• Export sales will stay the same

• Export sales will decrease a little

• Export sales will substantially decrease

• Not sure

Has your business imported goods or services in the last 12 months?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Did your business import goods or services more than 12 months ago?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

How has your business's importing of goods or services been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the last two weeks?

• Importing more than normal

• Importing has not been affected

• Importing, but less than normal

• Not been able to import in the last two weeks

• Not sure

Have you experienced any of the following challenges with importing over the last two weeks?

• Coronavirus-related transport restrictions

• Increases in transportation costs

• Closure of infrastructure used to import goods or services

• Other

• Did not experience any challenges with importing

Which of the following support options would your business benefit from, to help with importing challenges?

• Understanding markets and demand issues

• Finding new alternative supply chains

• Finding new overseas contacts or customers

• Transport and distribution

• Legal issues

• Customs and tariffs

• Import licences

• Other

• None of the above

Let us know anything else that will help us understand your business's importing in the last two weeks.

How did the prices of materials, goods or services bought by your business change in the last two weeks, 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 give more details about the prices of materials, goods or services that changed

What are your expectations about changes in prices of materials, goods or services that your business needs for the next two weeks?

• Expect prices to generally increase

• Expect prices not to change

• Expect prices to generally decrease

• Not sure

How did the prices of goods or services sold by your business change in the last two weeks, compared with normal 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 give more details about how prices changed

What are your expectations about prices of goods or services that your business will sell over the next two weeks?

• Prices will generally increase

• Prices will stay the same

• Prices will generally decrease

• Not sure

How do your business's stock levels for the last two weeks, compare to normal expectations for this time of year?

• Stock levels were higher than normal

• Stock levels have not changed

• Stock levels were lower than normal

• Not sure

• Not applicable

What was the main reason for the difference in stock levels?

• 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, from UK suppliers

• Yes, from EU suppliers

• Yes, from non-EU suppliers (Excluding the UK)

• Not sure

• Not stockpiling any goods or materials

Which of the following materials or goods are you stockpiling?

• Agricultural products

• Chemicals

• Food

• Manufacturing parts

• Metals and materials

• Pharmaceuticals

• Other consumer goods

• Other

• Not sure

Where are the stockpiled materials or goods being stored?

• Within the UK

• Outside the UK: EU

• Outside the UK: non-EU

• Not sure

Which storage solutions are you using for stockpiling these materials or goods?

• Building new storage

• Renting new storage

• Using more of our current storage

• Other

• Not sure

Please tell us more information about the goods or materials you are stockpiling.

Is your business intending to make changes to supply chains in preparation for the end of the EU transition period?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Not applicable

In which of the following ways is your business planning to change supply chains in preparation for the end of the EU transition period?

• Using more UK suppliers

• Using more EU suppliers

• Using more non-EU suppliers

• Moving the supply chain away from the short straits crossings

• Increasing the diversity in suppliers

• Expanding to different modes of freight

• Other

• Not sure

How prepared are your plans to ensure supply chain continuity for the end of the EU transition period?

• Fully prepared

• Somewhat prepared

• Not prepared

• Not relevant for this business

• Not sure

Overall, how prepared is your business for the end of the EU transition period?

• Fully prepared

• Somewhat prepared

• Not prepared

• Not relevant for this business

• Not sure

Which of the following is preventing your business from being fully prepared for the end of the EU transition period?

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• Not sure what we need to do to prepare

• No preparation needed as expect a deal to be reached

• The business has other, more immediate priorities

• Other

• Not sure

Has your business applied for any of the following grants?

• Local Restrictions Support Grant - England

• Local Restrictions Support Scheme - Northern Ireland

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Restrictions Fund - Scotland

• Lockdown Business Fund - Wales

• Not sure

• Not applied for any of these grants

Has your business received any of the following grants?

• Local Restrictions Support Grant - England

• Local Restrictions Support Scheme - Northern Ireland

• Business Closure Fund - Scotland

• Lockdown Business Fund - Wales

• Not sure

• Not received any of these grants

Has your business received any of these other grants?

• Small business grant

• Sector-specific grant

• Business Development Grant - Wales

• Additional Restriction Grant - England

• Not sure

• Not received any of these grants

Which governments in the UK provided the small business grant, or grants?

• Northern Ireland Executive

• Scottish Government

• UK Government - England only

• Welsh Government

• Not sure

Which governments in the UK provided the sector-specific grant, or grants?

• Northern Ireland Executive

• Scottish Government

• UK Government - England only

• Welsh Government

• Not sure

Has your business received any government-backed loans or finance agreements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Are you using, or intending to use, either of the following schemes?

• Kickstart Job Scheme for young people

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

• Not sure

• Not using, or intending to use, either of these schemes

How long do you think your business's cash reserves will last?

• No cash reserves

• Less than 1 month

• 1 to 3 months

• 4 to 6 months

• More than 6 months

• Not sure

How much confidence does your business have that it will survive the next three months?

• High confidence

• Moderate confidence

• Low confidence

• No confidence

• Not sure

Over the last month, how did your business's debt repayments compare with turnover?

• Repayments were more than 100% of turnover

• Repayments were between 50% and 100% of turnover

• Repayments were between 20% and 50% of turnover

• Repayments were up to 20% of turnover

• No repayments

• Not sure

Over the last month, how did your business's debt repayments compare with normal expectations for this time of year?

• Repayments have increased by more than 50%

• Repayments have increased by between 20% and 50%

• Repayments have increased by up to 20%

• Repayments have stayed the same

• Repayments have decreased by up to 20%

• Repayments have decreased by between 20% and 50%

• Repayments have decreased by more than 50%

• Not sure

Over the next month, how do you expect your business's debt repayments to change?

• Expect repayments to substantially increase

• Expect repayments to increase a little

• Expect repayments to stay the same

• Expect repayments to decrease a little

• Expect repayments to substantially decrease

• Not sure

• Not applicable

What is your business's risk of insolvency?

• Severe risk

• Moderate risk

• Low risk

• No risk

• The business is insolvent

• Not sure

How has the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected your business's risk of insolvency?

• Risk has increased

• Risk has stayed the same

• Risk has decreased

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your business's workforce were:

• On partial or full furlough leave

• Working at their normal place of work

• Working from home instead of at their normal place of work

• On sick leave or not working due to coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, self-isolation or quarantine

• Made permanently redundant

• Other

Of those partially and fully furloughed, what percentage are fully furloughed?

• Approximate percentage of furloughed staff who are 'fully furloughed'

• Not sure

In the last two weeks, approximately what percentage of your workforce have:

• Returned from furlough to homeworking, either fully or partially

• Returned from furlough to the normal workplace, either fully or partially

• Moved from homeworking to the normal workplace

• Moved from the normal workplace to homeworking

In the next two weeks, approximately what percentage of your workforce will:

• Return from furlough to homeworking, either fully or partially

• Return from furlough to the normal workplace, either fully or partially

• Return to the workplace from homeworking

Has your business had more staff working from home as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

How has the increase in homeworking affected the productivity of your workforce?

• Productivity has increased

• Productivity has stayed the same

• Productivity has decreased

• Not sure

Does your business intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Why do you intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?

• Ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool

• Ability to better match jobs to skills

• Increased productivity

• Reduced overheads

• Improved staff wellbeing

• Reduced sickness levels

• Other

• Not sure

Why do you not intend to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?

• Reduced productivity

• Security concerns

• Reduced reliability and retention of staff

• Reduced communication

• Negative impact on working culture

• Not suitable for our business

• Other

• 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

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

Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, how has the number of workers from within the European Union (EU) at your business changed?

• Number of workers from within the EU has increased

• Numbers of working from within the EU has stayed the same

• Number of workers from within the EU has decreased

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, how has the number of workers from outside the European Union (EU) at your business changed?

• Number of workers from outside the EU has increased

• Number of workers from outside the EU has stayed the same

• Number of workers from outside the EU

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

Does your business expect to recruit new workers from countries in the EU or EEA in the next 12 months?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

The immigration system is changing on 1 January 2021 for recruiting employees from the EU or EEA. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: Our business understands what the new immigration system for recruiting EU or EEA citizens means to our business.

• Strongly agree

• Agree

• Neither agree or disagree

• Disagree

• Strongly disagree

• Prefer not to say

Which of the following reasons best describes why your business does not fully understand what the immigration system for recruiting EU or EEA citizens means for the business?

• Not aware that the way to recruit from the EU or EEA is changing

• Not sure what the business's recruitment plans are so have not looked into it

• Aware the changes will affect the business, but do not know where to find information

• Aware the changes will affect the business, but plan on reading guidance at a later date

• Aware the changes will affect the business, but do not plan on reading the guidance

• Have read the guidance, but still do not understand what the changes mean for the business

• Not sure

• Not relevant for this business

Please tell us anything else that may help us understand your business's current situation

• Comments