1. Survey Information

These questions are for Wave 88 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 24 July 2023.

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2. 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

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3. UKCA

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 2025?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

Is your business using, or intending to use, the UKCA marking by 1 January 2025?

  • 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 2025

  • Will not use UKCA marking, as not relevant to our products or business

  • Not sure

Why is your business not currently using the UKCA marking?

  • Comments
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4. Supply Chains

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the EU in June 2023?

  • 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

Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in June 2023?

  • 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

Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in June 2023?

  • 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

In the last 12 months, has your business sold goods or services to customers in other UK nations?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In the last 12 months, which of the following challenges, if any, has your business experienced when selling goods or services to customers in other UK nations?

  • Challenges related to the Northern Ireland Protocol

  • Differences in rules or regulations

  • Lack of demand

  • Supply chain disruption

  • Transport capacity

  • Transport costs

  • Other (Please describe)

  • Not sure

  • Business did not experience any challenges

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5. Sending goods

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

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In June 2023, 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 June 2023:

  • Comments

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

  • Yes

  • No

  • Not sure

In June 2023, how did the volume of goods your business sent from Northern Ireland to GB compare with the previous calendar month?

  • Volume increased

  • Volume stayed the same

  • Volume 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 in June 2023:

  • Comments
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7. Environmental action

For which, if any, of the following effects of climate change has your business assessed risks?

  • Coastal erosion

  • Increased flooding

  • Supply chain disruption and distribution

  • Temperature increases

  • Water scarcity

  • Not sure

  • None of the above

Which, if any, of the following effects of climate change has your business taken action to adapt to?

  • Coastal erosion

  • Increased flooding

  • Supply chain disruption and distribution

  • Temperature increases

  • Water scarcity

  • Not sure

  • None of the above

Which, if any, of the following reasons have prevented your business from taking action against any of these climate change effects?

  • Business has been unable to take action due to costs

  • Business has been unable to take action due to lack of information or guidance

  • Business does not expect to be impacted by these effects

  • Other (Please describe)

  • Not sure

  • Business has not been prevented from taking action

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8. Industrial action

Was your business affected by industrial action in June 2023?

  • Yes, the business was affected

  • No, the business was not affected

  • Not sure

  • Not applicable

  • Prefer not to say

How was your business affected by industrial action in June 2023?

  • Business was unable to obtain necessary goods

  • Business was unable to obtain necessary services

  • Business was unable to operate fully

  • Part or all of the workforce were directly involved in industrial action

  • Workforce had to change their working location

  • Workforce were unable to perform their roles

  • Other (Please describe)

  • Not sure

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9. Comments

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

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Contact details for this Article

Gemma Rabaiotti
bics@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 1633 455 592