Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey questions: 19 October 2020 to 1 November 2020

These questions are for wave 16 of the fortnightly Business Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Survey dispatched on 19 October 2020. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.

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 currently paused or ceased trading

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 site 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 are currently paused or ceased trading

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

For your business as a whole, how has customer footfall changed over the last two weeks?

• Footfall has increased

• Footfall has stayed the same

• Footfall has decreased

• Not sure

• Not applicable

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

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

How has 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 (Please describe)

• 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 (Please describe)

• None of the above

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

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

• 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

• Source countries changing their border restrictions

• Other (Please describe)

• 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 (Please describe)

• 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 has the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected your business's stock levels in the last two weeks?

• Stock levels are higher than normal

• Stock levels have not changed

• Stock levels are lower than normal

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Please explain in more detail how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected stock levels in the last two weeks.

Has your business applied for any of the following schemes?

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

• Government-backed accredited loans or finance agreements

• Business grants funded by the UK and devolved governments

• Not applied for any of these schemes

Did your business apply for the Development Bank of Wales COVID-19 Business Loan Scheme?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Which government offered the business grants that your business applied for?

• Northern Ireland Executive

• Scottish Government

• UK Government (England Only)

• Welsh Government

• Not sure

Which of the following Welsh Government grants did your business apply for?

• COVID-19 grant for small businesses

• Economic Resilience Fund

• Sector-specific grants

• Not applied for any of these grants

Has your business received funds from any of the following Welsh Government grants?

• COVID-19 grant for small businesses

• Economic Resilience Fund

• Sector-specific grants

• Not received any funds from these grants

Which of the following Scottish Government grants did your business apply for?

• Small Business Support grant

• Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund

• Sector-specific grants

• Not applied for any of these grants

Has your business received funds from any of the following Scottish Government grants?

• Small Business Support grant

• Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund

• Sector-specific grants

• Not received any funds from these grants

Which of the following UK Government (England only) grants has your business apply for?

• Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF)

• Sector-specific grants

• Not applied for any of these grants

Has your business received funds from any of the following UK Government (England only) grants?

• Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF)

• Sector-specific grants

• Not received any funds from these grants

Which of the following Northern Ireland Executive grants did your business apply for?

• Small Business Grant Scheme

• Sector-specific grants

• Not applied for any of these grants

Has your business received funds from any of the following Northern Ireland Executive grants?

• Small Business Grant Scheme

• Sector-specific grants

• Not received any funds from these grants

Has your business received funds from any of the following schemes?

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

• Government-backed accredited loans or finance agreements

• Not received any funds from these schemes

Does your business expect to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) in the next two weeks?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Is your business intending to apply for any of the following schemes?

• Government-backed accredited loans or finance agreements

• Business grants funded by the UK and devolved governments

• Job Retention Bonus

• Kickstart Job Scheme for young people

• Not intending to apply for any of these schemes

Why is your business not intending to apply for the Job Retention Bonus?

• Furloughed employees will be made redundant before the end of January 2021

• Furloughed employees are not eligible

• We have not furloughed any employees

• Other (Please describe)

• Not sure

If any of your premises are required to close due to lockdown regulations, do you intend to apply for the "Job Support Scheme (JSS) Expansion for Closed Business Premises"?

• Intend to use it

• Might use it

• Do not intend to use it

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How helpful do you expect the "Job Support Scheme (JSS) Expansion for Closed Business Premises" will be in preventing redundancies at your business in the next three months?

• Very helpful

• Somewhat helpful

• Not helpful

• Not sure

Why will your business not apply for the "Job Support Scheme (JSS) Expansion for Closed Business Premises"?

• Our business will not be eligible to apply

• None of our employees will be eligible

• We will not need the additional financial support

• We do not expect any business premises to close

• Other (Please describe)

• Not sure

Is your business intending to apply for the standard Job Support Scheme (JSS)?

• Intend to use it

• Might use it

• Do not intend to use it

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How helpful do you expect the Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be in preventing redundancies at your business in the next three months?

• Very helpful

• Somewhat helpful

• Not helpful

• Not sure

• Not expecting any redundancies in the next three months

Approximately what percentage of your workforce are you intending to use the Job Support Scheme (JSS) for?

• Approximate percentage of workforce who you will use the JSS for

• Not sure

Why is your business not intending to use the Job Support Scheme (JSS)?

• Our business is not eligible to apply

• None of our employees are eligible

• It is not enough help to prevent closure

• Other (Please describe)

• Not sure

Is your business using any of the following initiatives?

• Business rates holiday

• Deferring VAT payments

• HMRC Time To Pay scheme

• Not using any of these initiatives

Is your business intending to use any of the following initiatives?

• Business rates holiday

• Deferring VAT payments

• HMRC Time To Pay scheme

• Not intending to use any of these initiatives

Did the support received from these initiatives or schemes help your business continue trading?

• Yes, it helped us to continue trading

• No, it did not impact our ability to continue trading

• Not sure

Please describe any other support from government that you think could help your business.

Has your business made any insurance claims as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Have you received funds from any insurance claims made as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

• Received funds for all claims

• Received funds for some claims

• Not received any funds

• Not sure

Has your business received any other financial assistance from banks or building societies?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Did the financial assistance received from banks or building societies help your business continue trading?

• Yes, it helped us to continue trading

• No, it did not impact our ability to continue trading

• Not sure

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

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

Is your business providing top-ups to any furloughed workers' pay, above the combined employer and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 80% contribution?

• Yes, the business is providing a top-up

• No, the business is not providing a top-up

• Not sure

Of those on furlough leave, approximately what percentage of workers have had their pay topped up, above the combined employer and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 80% contribution?

• Percentage of furloughed workers with top-up pay

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, either fully or partially

• Be made permanently redundant

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 (Please describe)

• 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 (Please describe)

• Not sure

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

How do you expect closing these sites to affect your workforce?

• Decreased hours

• Increased hours

• Moved to remote working

• Permanent redundancies

• Relocation

• Other (Please describe)

• Not sure

• Workforce will not be affected

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 one month

• Between one and three 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

Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Please tell us anything else that may help us understand your business's current situation

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