1. Survey Information
These questions are for Wave 88 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 24 July 2023.
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. 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
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
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
6. Workforce trends
Is your business using, or intending to use, increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Why is your business using, or intending to use, increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Ability to better match jobs to skills
Ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool in the UK
Ability to recruit from a wider geographical pool internationally
Improved staff wellbeing
Increased productivity
Reduced carbon emissions
Reduced overheads
Reduced sickness absence
Reduce wage bill
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Why is your business not intending to use increased homeworking as a permanent business model going forward?
Concerns with integrating new starters into the workplace
Costs of employee equipment
Difficulties managing staff remotely
Negative impact on working culture
Not suitable for our business
Reduced communication
Reduced productivity
Reduced reliability and retention of staff
Security concerns
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Is your business intending to permanently close any business sites in the next three months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
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
Move to remove working
Permanent redundancies
Relocation
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Workforce will not be affected
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
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
9. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey:
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