Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Small Business Survey, 2014 (SBS 2014) is a large-scale representative telephone survey of business owners and managers in the UK commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Scottish Government and Invest NI. Interviews were undertaken between July and October 2014 by BMG Research Ltd. The survey interviewed 5,115 businesses, each employing fewer than 250 people, across the UK. Some of these were enterprises without any employees, i.e. operated by a single individual or by partners who did not employ anyone else in the business.

Further information is available on the Government Small Business Survey reports webpage.

Secure Access SBS data
SBS data files containing 4 digit SIC codes and Inter-Departmental Business Register reference numbers for linking to other business surveys are available via the UK Data Service Secure Access system. These data are subject to further access restrictions. More information is available under SN 6856.
Main Topics:

The survey asked business managers and owners about a range of issues including recent growth in sales turnover and employment, obstacles to business success, the capabilities of owners and managers (in terms of their ability to innovate, export and train staff), access to finance, and the use of business support.

There are three related datasets included:

• one covering all of the businesses surveyed
• one for businesses with no employees
• one for SMEs with employees