1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 121 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 18 November 2024. These are the most up-to-date survey questions.
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
Back to table of contents3. 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 October 2024 compare with employees' hourly wages in the previous calendar month?
Wages increased
Wages stayed the same
Wages decreased
Not sure
How have your business's staffing costs changed over the last three months?
Costs have increased
Costs have stayed the same
Costs have decreased
Not sure
Not applicable
How does your business expect staffing costs to change over the next three months?
Costs will increase
Costs will stay the same
Costs will decrease
Not sure
Not applicable
Which of the following challenges, if any, has your business experienced due to a shortage of workers?
Business had to pause trading entirely
Business had to recruit temporary workers
Employees worked increased hours
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Unable to meet demands
Other
Not sure
Business has not experienced any challenges due to a shortage of workers
Which of the following employees, if any, did your business have difficulties recruiting in October 2024?
Clerical employees
Professional or managerial employees
Semi-skilled or unskilled employees
Skilled, manual or technical employees
Other
Not sure
Business did not experience any difficulties in recruiting employees
Why did your business experience difficulties recruiting employees in October 2024?
Business cannot offer an attractive pay package to applicants
Increased number of vacancies
Lack of qualified applicants for the roles on offer
Low number of applications for the roles on offer
Reduced number of applicants aged 16 to 24 years
Reduced number of applicants aged over 50 years
Reduced number of EU applicants
Other
Not sure
4. Workforce management
Does your business have a probation policy in place for new employees?
Yes
No
Not sure
How long is a typical probationary period for new employees at your business?
More than 12 months
10 to 12 months
7 to 9 months
4 to 6 months
3 months or fewer
Not sure
Does your business currently employ anyone on any of the following contracts?
Agency contract
Casual contract
Fixed term contract
Minimum hours contract
Seasonal contract
Variable hours contract
Zero hours contract
None of the above
Approximately, what percentage of your business's workforce are employed under a variable hours contract?
More than 75%
Between 50% and 75%
Between 25% and 49%
Less than 25%
Not sure
Has your business gone through a collective redundancy consultation in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
Approximately, how many redundancies did your business make following this collective redundancy consultation process?
More than 120
Between 100 and 119
Between 60 and 99
Between 20 and 59
Between 1 and 19
Not sure
Approximately, how many redundancies was your business considering before the collective redundancy consultation process?
More than 120
Between 100 and 119
Between 60 and 99
Between 20 and 59
Between 1 and 19
Not sure
5. Cryptocurrency
Has your business used, accepted, or conducted any transactions involving cryptocurrencies in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
Does your business currently hold any cryptocurrencies as part of its assets?
Yes
No
Not sure
6. Comments
Which of the following occupational groups best represents your position at your business?
Administrative and secretarial occupations
Associate professional occupations
Caring, leisure and other service occupations
Elementary occupations
Managers, directors and senior officials
Process, plant and machine operatives
Professional occupations
Sales and customer service occupations
Skilled trades occupations
Other
Prefer not to say
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey
- Comments
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