1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 44 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 15th of November 2021. 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. 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
Were these changes to supply chains made as a result of a new UK trade agreement?
Yes
No
Not sure
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
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
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
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?
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
Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?
Yes
No
Not sure
How does your business's capital expenditure for the last two weeks compare to normal expectations for this time of year?
Capital expenditure is higher than normal
Capital expenditure has not been affected
Capital expenditure is lower than normal
Capital expenditure has stopped
Not sure
Not applicable
What was the main reason for this change in your business's capital expenditure?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
End of the EU transition period
Super-deduction
Other
Not sure
Please explain in more detail how your business's capital expenditure has been affected.
Over the last month, has your business scrapped any capital assets earlier than intended?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Please explain in more detail what type of assets your business scrapped early and why.
Back to table of contents6. 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 good 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
You reported that a percentage of your business's workforce were classified as 'other', please describe what this includes.
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
Is your business collecting, or intending to collect, contact details for the purpose of contact tracing at your sites?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
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
Why is your business making these redundancies?
Automation
Business is closing or insolvent
Certain job roles are no longer required
Change in management
End of the furlough scheme
Relocation of the business
Site closures
To reduce staff costs
Other
Not sure
Prefer not to say
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 staff turnover for the last month, compare to normal expectations for this time of year?
Staff turnover has increased by more than 50%
Staff turnover has increased between 20% and 50%
Staff turnover has increased by up to 20%
Staff turnover has not been affected
Staff turnover has decreased by up to 20%
Staff turnover has decreased between 20% and 50%
Staff turnover has decreased by more than 50%
Not sure
Not applicable
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 EU applicants
Other
Not sure
9. Workforce characteristics
How has the number of workers from within the EU at your business changed, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?
Number of workers from within the EU has increased
We employ 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 changed, compared with normal expectations for this time of year?
Number of workers from outside the EU has increased
We employ 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
10. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey