Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 20 September to 2 October 2022

These questions are for Wave 66 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on the 20th of September 2022. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.

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

How did your business's exporting in August 2022 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 August 2022, compared with the previous calendar month?

• Additional paperwork

• 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

What was the main cause of these exporting challenges?

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• End of the EU transition period

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

Does your business currently use rules of origin to access lower or zero tariffs on exports?

• Yes, to EU countries

• Yes, to non-EU countries

• Yes, to both EU and non-EU countries

• No

• Not sure

How has using rules of origin when exporting to the EU changed the amount of administration for your business?

• Administration has increased

• Administration has stayed the same

• Administration has decreased

• Not sure

Why does your business not currently use rules of origin to access lower or zero tariffs?

• Administrative costs of rules of origin outweigh the potential tariff saving

• Exports do not meet rules of origin requirements

• Lack of understanding, staffing or expertise to use rules of origin

• The business has attempted to use rules of origin but has been unsuccessful

• The EU does not charge tariffs on the goods the business exports

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• Not applicable

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

How did your business's importing in August 2022 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 August 2022, compared with the previous calendar month?

• Additional paperwork

• 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

What was the main cause of these importing challenges?

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

• End of the EU transition period

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the end of the EU transition period

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

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

Is your business 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

Overall, how prepared is your business for the mandatory use of UKCA marking for most CE marked products from 1 January 2023?

• Fully prepared

• Somewhat prepared

• Not prepared

• Not sure

• Not applicable

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 (please describe)

• Not sure

• No extra costs

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 August 2022?

• 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 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

Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in August 2022?

• 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

Which of the following, if any, will be the main concern for your business in October 2022?

• Business rates

• Competition

• Energy prices

• Exchange rates

• Inflation of goods and services prices

• Interest rates

• Supply chain disruption

• Taxation

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• No concerns for the business

To what extent has your business already passed through higher costs to prices?

• More than 75%

• Between 50-74%

• Between 25-49%

• Less than 24%

• Not sure

• Business has not passed through any higher costs

How frequently does your business pay its gas bills?

• Annually

• Quarterly

• Monthly

• Weekly

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Are your business's gas prices fixed or hedged?

• Yes, expiring by 31 December 2022

• Yes, expiring by 31 March 2023

• Yes, expiring after 31 March 2023

• No, gas prices are variable

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How much do you expect your business's gas bill to increase once your fixed contract ends?

• More than 300%

• Between 200-299%

• Between 100-199%

• Between 1-99%

• Do not expect business's gas bill to increase

• Not sure

If your business had a fixed price contract for gas end within the last 12 months, what were the new arrangements made with your supplier?

• Moved on to a variable price contract

• New fixed contract at higher price

• New fixed contract at the same price or lower

• Fixed contract has not ended within last 12 months

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How frequently does your business pay its electricity bills?

• Annually

• Quarterly

• Monthly

• Weekly

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Are your business's electricity prices fixed or hedged?

• Yes, expiring by 31 December 2022

• Yes, expiring by 31 March 2023

• Yes, expiring after 31 March 2023

• No, electricity prices are variable

• Not sure

• Not applicable

How much do you expect your business's electricity bill to increase once your fixed contract ends?

• More than 300%

• Between 200-299%

• Between 100-199%

• Between 1-99%

• Do not expect business's electricity bill to increase

• Not sure

If your business had a fixed price contract for electricity end within the last 12 months, what were the new arrangements made with your supplier?

• Moved on to a variable price contract

• New fixed contract at higher price

• New fixed contract at the same price or lower

• Fixed contract has not ended within last 12 months

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

In August 2022, how did the volume of goods your business sent from GB to Northern Ireland compare with the previous calendar month?

• Volume increased

• Volume stayed the same

• Volume 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 in August 2022

• Comments

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 (please describe)

• Not sure

• Business has not been affected

How has the number of workers from within the EU at your business in August 2022 changed compared with this calendar month last 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 in August 2022 changed compared with this calendar month last 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

Is your business concerned about the impact climate change may have on the business?

• Yes, very concerned

• Yes, somewhat concerned

• No, not concerned

• Not sure

Which of the following actions, if any, has your business taken to protect the environment?

• Publishes an annual sustainability report

• Has a climate change strategy

• Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target

• Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target which includes supply chain

• Monitors climate-related risks

• Has a nature or biodiversity strategy

• Has a nature or biodiversity target

• Has a nature or biodiversity target which includes supply chain

• Monitors nature or biodiversity-related risks

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• None of the above

Which of the following actions, if any, have you taken to reduce your business's carbon emissions?

• Adjusting heating and cooling systems

• Electrifying your vehicle fleet

• Going paperless

• Installing a smart meter

• Installing charging points

• Installing your own renewable electricity or heating

• Insulating your buildings

• Introducing a cycle to work scheme

• Switching to LED bulbs

• Other (please describe)

• Not sure

• No actions have been taken to reduce emissions

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

• Comments