1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 99 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 27 December 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. Exporting
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 December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Exported more
Exporting stayed the same
Exported less
Business was unable to export
Not sure
How did your business's cost of exporting in December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Cost increased
Cost stayed the same
Cost decreased
Not sure
How did the time spent on exporting in December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Time spent increased
Time spent stayed the same
Time spent decreased
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in December 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
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
Did not experience an increase in any exporting challenges
4. Importing
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 December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Imported more
Importing stayed the same
Imported less
Business was unable to import
Not sure
How did your business's cost of importing in December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Cost increased
Cost stayed the same
Cost decreased
Not sure
How did the time spent on importing in December 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Time spent increased
Time spent stayed the same
Time spent decreased
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in December 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
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
Did not experience an increase in any importing challenges
5. Supply Chains
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from the EU in December 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 December 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 December 2023?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
In the last 12 months, has your business purchased goods or services from suppliers in other UK nations?
Yes
No
Not sure
In the last 12 months, which of the following goods or services has your business purchased from suppliers in other UK nations?
Casual labour
Financial services
Professional services
Finished goods
Semi-finished or intermediate goods
Raw materials
Other
Not sure
In the last 12 months, has your business sold goods or services from suppliers 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
Not sure
Business did not experience any challenges
6. Sending goods
Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In December 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 December 2023
- Comments
Has your business sent goods from Northern Ireland to GB in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In December 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 Northern Ireland
Not sure
Not applicable
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from Northern Ireland to GB changed in December 2023
- Comments
7. 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
Reduced wage bill
Other
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
Not sure
Which, if any, of the following skills has your business had a high demand for in the last 12 months?
Advanced digital skills
Basic digital skills
Customer service skills
Management or leadership skills
Manual skills
Transferable skills
Other
None of the above
Which, if any, of the following skills does your workforce require extra support or training in?
Advanced digital skills
Basic digital skills
Customer service skills
Management or leadership skills
Manual skills
Transferable skills
Other
None of the above
On average, how did employees' hourly wages in December 2023 compare with employees' hourly wages in the previous calendar month?
Wages increased
Wages stayed the same
Wages decreased
Not sure
Is your business currently experiencing a shortage of workers?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
How has the shortage of workers affected your business?
Business had to pause trading entirely
Business had to recruit temporary workers
Employees working increased hours
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Unable to meet demands
Other
Not sure
Business has not been affected
8. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey:
- Comments
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