Summary information

Study title

Business Insights and Conditions Survey: Waves 1-115, 2020-2024: Secure Access

Creator

Office for National Statistics

Study number / PID

8653 (UKDA)

10.5255/UKDA-SN-8653-28 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Not available

Abstract

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS, formerly the Business Impact of COVID-19 Survey) is a voluntary fortnightly survey of businesses developed to deliver timely indicators to help understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).  The scope of the survey has been expanded to explore other economic-related issues such as the European Union transition period (Brexit).  The survey captures businesses responses on how their turnover, workforce, prices, trade and business resilience have been affected in the two week reference period.The data should be treated with caution as results reflect the characteristics of those who responded and not necessarily the wider business population. Comparison of the proportions of businesses' trading status between waves should be treated with caution because of the voluntary nature of the survey, the difference in response rates and dependency on those businesses that only responded in particular waves. These data should not be used in place of official statistics. The survey was designed to give an indication of the impact of the coronavirus on businesses and a timelier estimate than other surveys. The latest publications from the survey can be found on the ONS Business Services webpage. Linking to other business studiesThese data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research.Latest edition informationFor the twenty-eighth edition (November 2024), data and documentation for Wave 115 have been added to the study.Main Topics:BICS covers questions relating to:financial performance of the businessoperational performance of the businessother financial or operational issuesA full...
Read more

Methodology

Data collection period

Not available

Country

United Kingdom

Time dimension

Repeated cross-sectional study

Analysis unit

Institutions/organisations
National

Universe

UK Businesses selected to complete the Monthly Business Survey, Retail Sales Inquiry and Construction Surveys, March 2020 to October 2024.

Sampling procedure

One-stage stratified or systematic random sample

Kind of data

Numeric

Data collection mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Access

Publisher

UK Data Service

Publication year

2020

Terms of data access

The Data Collection is available to UK Data Service registered users subject to the End User Licence Agreement.

Commercial use is not permitted.

Use of the data requires approval from the data owner or their nominee. Users must apply for access via a Secure Access application.

Non UK-users must have a UK HE or FE affiliation.

Registered users must complete the Safe Researcher Training course and gain Accredited Researcher Status.

Users must be based in the UK when accessing data.

The Data Collection must be accessed via a secure virtual private network in a safe environment approved by the UK Data Service.

Related publications

Not available