Yorkshire and Humber NBS Report
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Transcript of Yorkshire and Humber NBS Report
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The National Business SurveyYorkshire and Humber Report – November 2009 Results
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Executive Summary
The November 2009 wave of the National Business Survey (NBS) shows an upward trend in business performance compared to the previous wave
– 22% of businesses in the region reported an improved business performance in the past 12 months, compared to only 15% in June 2009
Improved business performance is reflected in increased orders, output and profit margins
The future is also looking more optimistic with 29% of businesses expecting an improvement in their business climate
– Transport, manufacturing and financial/business services firm are the most optimistic in the region, with around two fifths of these firm expecting higher domestic orders in the next 12 months
However, while firms seem to be more optimistic in general, they are vulnerable should there be any further downturn – with a third (30%) citing that they are not well place to weather a downturn
– This is less likely to be felt by larger companies, who are more likely to have reserves in place to help them cope
Companies are still feeling the pressure from customers to reduce their prices (62%) and are experiencing a higher level of price competition (60%).
– This is felt more acutely in the construction sector and it is unsurprising that this sector is most likely to experience delayed payments from customers
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Executive Summary
It is encouraging to see more businesses pursuing new markets/customers in November 2009 (68%) compared to only 51% of businesses in June, although more businesses have also had to reduce staff and delay payments in order to survive
Investment is still low in the region – although this is unsurprising given that many businesses are working hard to merely survive
A fifth of firms expect to raise new sources or renegotiate existing forms of finance or credit
– There is a clear link between those business who feel less able to weather any downturn and those who expect to access finance
Businesses are increasingly reluctant to pass on any increased costs to customers perhaps highlighting the difficulties of attracting and retaining customers
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Contents
Background and methodology
Section 1 - Headline Business Performance
Section 2 - Performance and outlook across key business metrics
Section 3 – Are market conditions improving?
Section 4 – Are businesses still taking action to combat the downturn?
Section 5 – Is business investment improving?
Section 6 - Access to finance and credit
Section 7 - Business cost pressures
Section 8 - Business strategies
Section 9 - Business collaboration and support
Section 10 - Human resources and training
Appendix A – Additional charts of interest
Appendix B - Guide to statistical reliability
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Introduction
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Background and objectives
This report is based on findings from the National Business Survey (NBS), November 2009, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Regional Development Agency Network and Invest Northern Ireland.
The National Business Survey is one of the largest and most statistically robust of its kind carried out in England and Northern Ireland with over 5,300 companies responding from all sectors of the economy. Respondents are senior business leaders within their organisation.
The survey is carried out twice a year (spring and autumn) with the latest findings covering opinion for the months October – December 2009. The survey asks a variety of questions ranging from business optimism to orders and output, skills issues, cost pressures and environmental performance.
The survey builds on the findings and work of the survey carried out in June 2008, November 2008, June 2009 and of the previously titled “UK Survey of Regional Economic Trends”, which ran over nine consecutive waves, from spring 2003.
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Methodology
The methodology and questionnaire remain largely unchanged to ensure consistency of approach between survey waves and data.
The National Business Survey uses a postal methodology, with the option of completing the survey online for those who find this more convenient.
An initial mail-out was sent out to a randomly selected, representative sample of businesses and organisations across the country. Following this email reminders were sent to all organisations with email contact details.
Fieldwork was conducted between October and December 2010 and the final achieved sample size was 5,313. The table on the next slide shows how responses were broken down by each region.
Data have been weighted by size (employee numbers), region and sector, to reflect the national profile.
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Sampling
RegionSample Size
November 2009
Sample Size
June 2009
Sample Size
November 2008
Sample Size
June 2008
Yorkshire and Humber 925 1,215 843 1,144
West Midlands 432 616 327 319
South West 437 558 425 454
South East 683 957 569 657
North West 438 620 538 357
North East 351 431 343 307
London 420 552 505 414
East Midlands 805 938 738 735
East of England 449 529 380 410
England 4,940 6,416 4,668 4,797
Northern Ireland 373 411 335 438
TOTAL (England and Northern Ireland)
5,313 6,827 5,003 5,235
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Publication of data and acknowledgements
Publication of the Data
– As with all our studies, these findings are subject to our standard Terms & Conditions of Contract. Any press release or publication of the findings of this survey requires the advance approval of Ipsos MORI. This would only be refused on the grounds of inaccuracy or misrepresentation of the findings.
Acknowledgements
– We would like to place on record our thanks for the input and support provided during the study from Victoria Gell, Bethan Sheridan-Jones, and Patrick Bowes at Yorkshire Forward, as well as Ian Kay at the Office for National Statistics. We would also like to thank all businesses who took the time to take part in the survey.
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Findings from the National Business Survey
November 2009
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Section 1
Headline Business Performance
12
22%
32%
46%
Business performance in Yorkshire and Humber is improving
Improved
Deteriorated
Remained stable
Q Would you say that overall, your business performance in the past 12 months has improved, remained stable or deteriorated?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (922)
In line with positive national trends, a higher proportion of firms in Yorkshire and Humber reported that their business performance has improved compared to June 2009. Less than half (46%) of businesses in Yorkshire and Humber (47% in England) report that their business performance has deteriorated over the past 12 months, and almost a
quarter (22%) say that it has improved (20% in England), a 7% point increase compared to June 2009.
June 2009: 15%
June 2009: 30%
June 2009: 55%
13
27%
25%
22%
21%
19%
13%
38%
33%
45%
26%
29%
29%
28%
36%
33%
40%
29%
52%
50%
53%
59%
53%
29%
12%
Public/personal services (91*)
Hotels/catering (45*)
Primary (27*)
Manufacturing (163)
Financial/Business Services (247)
Retail and Distribution (217)
Construction (83*)
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
Improved Remained stable Deteriorated
Primary sector businesses have experienced the most positive upturn in performance; 25% reported that their businesses performance has improved, an increase of 21 % points compared to June 2009. Just under three in ten Public/personal service (29%) and
Hotels/catering businesses (27%) report improvements. The only sector where fewer firms report improved performance compared to June 2009 is in Transport/storage/comms. While there are an increased number of businesses in this sector reporting stable
performance compared to six months ago, the full effect of any upturn is yet to really impact on this sector.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Would you say that overall, your business performance in the past 12 months has improved, remained stable or deteriorated?
%improve: diff to June
2009
Business performance by sector remains mixed; firms in the primary and hotels/catering sectors have seen greatest improvements in performance over the period
2%
19%
21%
7%
5%
2%
8%
-6%
14
20%
29%
32%
34%
26%
32%
47%
46%
35%
1-9 (637)
10-49 (209)
50+ (74*)
Improved Remained stable Deteriorated
Better economic conditions are clearly having a positive impact on the performance of smaller firms. Business performance of larger firms has stabilised over the last six months
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Would you say that overall, your business performance in the past 12 months has improved, remained stable or deteriorated?
One in five (20%) 1-9 employee firms and 29% of 10-49 businesses in Yorkshire have reported performance improvements in the last 12 months, an increase of 6 % points and 13 % points respectively since June 2009. This
rate of increase is significantly higher than the national average. While fewer 50+ firms report improved performance compared to June 2009, conditions appear to be stabilising and greater numbers now report stable performance.
Smaller firms are clearly more sensitive to changing economic conditions, falling harder in the downturn but conversely experiencing a quicker recovery.
%improve: diff to June
2009
+6%
+13%
-8%
15
12%
8%
20%
29%
39%
36%
48%
47%
49%
56%
32%
24%
June 2008 (1,117)
November 2008 (827)
June 2009 (1,187)
November 2009 (911)
Improve Remain stable Deteriorate
The upward trend is expected to continue with businesses feeling more optimistic now about the future business climate.
Q Over the next 12 months do you expect the business climate in which your business operates to generally improve, remain stable, or deteriorate?
Businesses in the region continue to feel optimistic about the next 12 months, with just under three in ten (29%) businesses expecting their business climate to improve, an increase of 9 % points compared to June 2009. Just
under a quarter (24%) expect their business climate to deteriorate in 2010, in line with the national results.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
16
40%
38%
37%
29%
24%
23%
23%
16%
31%
38%
42%
46%
50%
50%
46%
71%
28%
24%
22%
25%
26%
27%
30%
13%
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
Manufacturing (163)
Financial/Business services (247)
Public/personal services (91*)
Retail and Distribution (217)
Construction (83*)
Hotels /catering (45*)
Primary (27*)
Improve Remain stable Deteriorate
Transport/storage/comms sector is most optimistic about the business climate in the next 12 months, while the primary sector expects stable conditions
The Transport/storage/comms sector is most optimistic about the development of their business climate in the next 12 months with 40% expecting an improvement. The majority of businesses (71%) in the Primary sector expect
stable conditions over the next 12 months, while only 16% expect improvements.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Over the next 12 months do you expect the business climate in which your business operates to generally improve, remain stable, or deteriorate?
%improve: diff to June
2009
20%
20%
13%
8%
4%
11%
4%
1%
17
28%
35%
22%
49%
41%
37%
22%
25%
41%
1-9 (629)
10-49 (207)
50+ (73*)
Improve Remain stable Deteriorate
Confidence is growing among small and medium businesses, while larger businesses remain pessimistic about the next 12 months
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Over the next 12 months do you expect the business climate in which your business operates to generally improve, remain stable, or deteriorate?
Small and medium sized businesses feel more optimistic about the next 12 months than 6 months ago with 28% expecting their business climate to improve, 35% respectively. Four in ten (41%) large businesses feel pessimistic about the future, while under a quarter (22%) expect improvements, a drop of 3% points compared to June 2009.
%improve: diff to June
2009
+10%
+9%
-3%
18
10%
59%
21%
9%
1%
The majority of businesses feel well placed to weather any economic downturn in the next 12 months
Q How well placed is your business to weather any downturn in economic conditions over the next 12 months?
Over two thirds (69%) of businesses feel their business is well placed to weather any downturn in economic conditions over the next 12 months, a slight decrease since June 2009 (71%). The Hotels/catering industry feels least well placed with just under a quarter (23%) saying they are not at all well placed, while almost four in five (79%) businesses in the
Public/personal services sector feel well placed.
Very well placed
Not very well
placed
Fairly well placed
Not at all well placed
N/A Very well
Fairly well
Not very well
Not at all well
Manufacturing (162) 15% 60% 16% 8%
Primary (28*) 13% 57% 19% 8%
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
13% 54% 22% 11%
Public/personal services (90*)
13% 66% 14% 6%
Financial and Business Services (243)
11% 60% 24% 5%
Retail and Distribution (213)
8% 62% 18% 11%
Construction (80*) 6% 47% 32% 13%
Hotels/catering (43*) 3% 49% 25% 23%
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (908) *Caution: small base size (<100)
19
8%
18%
20%
58%
63%
66%
23%
13%
10%
6%
3%
1%
7% 3%
1-9 (632)
10-49 (209)
50+ (74*)
Very well placed Fairly well placed Not very well placed Not at all well placed N/A
Despite slightly improved conditions, businesses in Yorkshire and Humber do not feel significantly better placed to weather any downturn compared to June
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q How well placed is your business to weather any downturn in economic conditions over the next 12 months?
Small businesses feel only slightly better placed to weather any downturn than in June 2009 – 66% state they feel well placed, compared to 69% in June. Despite being most pessimistic about their future business climate, large
businesses feel most confident, with only 10% stating that they don’t feel well placed.
% improve: diff to June
2009
-3%
+4%
-1%
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The trend of the BCC Quarterly Economic Survey confirms the results of the NBS, showing a steep increase in confidence in turnover and profitability
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Q1
02
Q3
02
Q1
03
Q3
03
Q1
04
Q3
04
Q1
05
Q3
05
Q1
06
Q3
06
Q1
07
Q3
07
Q1
08
Q3
08
Q1
09
Q3
09
Turnover - Manufacturing Turnover - Service
Profitability - Manufacturing Profitability - Service
Source: BCC Quarterly Economic Survey (UK)
Confidence, by turnover and profitability, within manufacturing and servicing sectors
21
The CBI Quarterly Industrial Trends Survey shows a similar trend to the NBS – business confidence has improved in January 2009, and now has a positive balance overall
Balance is a percentage difference between negative and positive responses
Source: CBI Quarterly Industry Trends Survey (UK)
-10
16
-13-18
-23
-40
-60-64
-40
-16
10
-2-7
-2
-14
-6
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
Jan-0
6
Apr
Jul
Oct
Jan-0
7
Apr
Jul
Oct
Jan-0
8
Apr
Jul
Oct
Jan-0
9
Apr
Jul
Oct
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Section 2
Performance and outlook across key business metrics
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23%
8%
15%
27%
42%
15%
22%
6%
13%
25%
36%
46%
12%14%14%
6% 7%
15%
24%
30%
8%10%
17%
7%
12%
21% 20%
31%
10%14%
DomesticOrders
ExportOrders
NumbersEmployed
Volume ofoutput
Pricescharged tocustomers
Staff costs Profitmargins
Cash in thebusiness
(cash flow)
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
In line with national trends, business performance in Yorkshire has started to improve slightly in November. Higher proportions of businesses reported increased volumes of output, domestic orders, cash flow and numbers employed.
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what has been the trend during the past 12 months with regard to…
Domestic orders, export orders, numbers employed and volume of output have all increased in November. This upward trend is reflected in higher staff costs, higher profit margins and increased cash flow. Prices charged to
customers are reported to have decreased.
% higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering
24
-26%
-45%-50%
-25%-28%
-39%-33%
-7%-13%
-40%
-49%
-27%
-5%
-25%
-35%
-6%
Primary Manufacturing Construction DistributionHotels/catering
Transport/storage/comms
Financial/BusinessServices
Public/personalservices
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what has been the trend during the past 12 months with regard to… Domestic orders
The Hotels/catering sector experienced the greatest improvement over the past 6 months with regard to domestic orders, the negative %net higher shrinking to -5% compared to -28% in June. The Primary sector and the Transport/storage/comms sector also reported significant improvements (-13% and -25% respectively). Businesses in the Retail/distribution and Financial/business services sectors
were the only sectors that experienced a decrease in domestic orders.
% net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2009 - 1,157, November 2009 - 870)
Most sectors reported an increase in domestic orders in November, most notably in the Hotels/catering and Primary sectors. The Public/personal services industry remained stable, while the Retail/distribution and Financial/business Services sectors continue to struggle in the economic downturn
25
-60% -63%-68%
-53%
-69%
-54%-48% -47%
-41%
-57%
-69%
-50% -53%-57%
-44%-38%
Primary Manufacturing ConstructionRetail andDistribution Hotels/catering
Transport/storage/comms
Financial/BusinessServices
Public/personalservices
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what has been the trend during the past 12 months with regard to… Profit margins
Most businesses reported an increase in profit margins, with the net higher score for the Primary sector improving from -60% to -41% in November. Businesses operating in the Construction sector (-69%) or the
Transport/storage/comms industry (-57%) reported a slight decrease in profit margins.
% net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2008 – 1,187; Nov 2009 - 903)
As a result of increased orders, profit margins have also started to improve across most sectors
26
19%
8%
14%
24%
46%
16%15%
6%9%
20%
31%
38%
12%
17%18%
7%9%
24%27%
30%
13%17%
27%
11%14%
31%35%
18%22%
27%
DomesticOrders
ExportOrders
NumbersEmployed
Volume ofoutput
Pricescharged tocustomers
Staff costs Profitmargins
Cash in thebusiness
(cash flow)
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Businesses in Yorkshire feel considerably more optimistic about the next 12 months with over a quarter expecting higher domestic orders and almost a third expecting an increase in outputs.
Expectations across almost all metrics have increased since June; over a quarter (27%) expect an increase in domestic orders, just under a third (31%) higher volume of output. The proportion of businesses expecting an
increase in staff employed rose to 14%, 35% expect an increase in staff costs. 22% expect an increase in their cash flow, 18% in profit margins.
% higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months with regard to…
27
12%
-8%
-27%
-9%-14% -13%
-7%-2%
-12%
18%
0%3% 4%
14%17%
9%
Primary Manufacturing ConstructionRetail andDistribution
Hotels/catering
Transport/storage/comms
Financial/BusinessServices
Public/personalservices
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months with regard to… Domestic orders
Most sectors expect an improvement in domestic order levels with the balance turning positive for the majority of sectors. The Manufacturing and Financial/business services sectors are most optimistic about domestic orders in the
next 12 months with net higher scores of 18% and 17% respectively. Construction also showed a considerable improvement with even proportions expecting higher and lower domestic orders.
% net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Jun 2009 – 1,093; Nov 2009 - 822)
The majority of sectors expect strong improvements in domestic orders, with most reporting positive net higher scores
28
-40%-36%
-47%
-32%
-59%
-48%
-27% -26%
-35%
-8%
-28% -26%
-41%
-17%
-4%
-15%
Primary Manufacturing ConstructionRetail andDistribution
Hotels/catering
Transport/storage/comms
Financial/BusinessServices
Public/personalservices
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months with regard to… Profit margins
All sectors expect small improvements in their profit margins in the next year; the Transport/storage/comms sector is most optimistic with net higher scores improving to -17% (compared to -48% in wave 3). The Hotels/catering sector remains most pessimistic in November with a net higher score of -41%, still, a significant improvement since June.
% net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Jun 2009 – 1,121; Nov 2009 - 841)
All sectors expect improvements in profit margins over the next 12 months, although the balance remains negative
29
Results from the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) support the trends of the NBS, reporting a strong increase in business performance
-55
-45
-35
-25
-15
-5
5
15
25
35
Q1
02
Q3
02
Q1
03
Q3
03
Q1
04
Q3
04
Q1
05
Q3
05
Q1
06
Q3
06
Q1
07
Q3
07
Q1
08
Q3
08
Q1
09
Q3
09
Home Sales - Manufacturing
Home Sales - Service
Home Orders - Manufacturing
Home Orders - Service
Source: BCC Quarterly Economic Survey (UK)
Sales, by home sales and orders, within manufacturing and servicing sectors
30
The BCC survey reports an increase in export orders and sales for Manufacturing and Services businesses, confirming the findings of the NBS
-55
-45
-35
-25
-15
-5
5
15
25
35
Q1
02
Q3
02
Q1
03
Q3
03
Q1
04
Q3
04
Q1
05
Q3
05
Q1
06
Q3
06
Q1
07
Q3
07
Q1
08
Q3
08
Q1
09
Q3
09
Export Sales - Manufacturing
Export Sales - Service
Export Orders - Manufacturing
Export Orders - Service
Source: BCC Quarterly Economic Survey (UK)
Sales, by export sales and orders, within manufacturing and servicing sectors
31
The BCC survey confirms that the unemployment rate peaked in Q2 and has now started to shrink with steep improvements in both the Manufacturing and Service sectors
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Q1
02
Q3
02
Q1
03
Q3
03
Q1
04
Q3
04
Q1
05
Q3
05
Q1
06
Q3
06
Q1
07
Q3
07
Q1
08
Q3
08
Q1
09
Q3
09
Employment in last 3 months - Manufacturing
Employment in last 3 months - Service
Source: BCC Quarterly Economic Survey (UK)
Employment in the ‘last 3 months’, within manufacturing and servicing sectors
32
Section 3
Are market conditions improving?
33
62%
60%
50%
25%
25%
8%
14%
Pressure to reduce prices from your customers
A higher level of price competition in your market
Delayed payments from your customers
More stringent controls and requirements from yourbusiness bank
Employees are more willing to accept salaryreductions / pay freezes
An increased level of support and assistance fromyour business bank
None
In line with national trends, businesses continue to feel pressure to reduce prices from customers and experience strong price competition
Q As a direct result of current economic conditions, has your business experienced any of the following in the past 12 months?
Over 3 in 5 businesses (62%) experienced pressure to reduce prices from their customers, fairly in line with national results (60%) and an increase from 56% in June. Price competition in the market is also felt to remain strong (60% experienced higher levels of competition), especially in the Construction (84%) and Hotels/catering (74%) sectors.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (893), all in England answering (4,831)
60%
England
61%
52%
26%
30%
7%
11%
34
89%
75%
73%
65%
61%
59%
49%
46%
Construction (82*)
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
Manufacturing (162)
Retail and Distribution (206)
Financial/Business Services (240)
Hotels/catering (41*)
Primary (26*)
Public/personal services (87*)
The Construction, Transport/storage/comms and Manufacturing sectors are most likely to report high pressure to reduce prices from customers
Q As a direct result of current economic conditions, has your business experienced any of the following in the past 12 months? Pressure to reduce prices from customers
Construction businesses are most affected by pressure from customers to reduce their prices (89%), followed by the Transport/storage/comms (75%) and Manufacturing (73%) sectors.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
35
44%
60%
72%
78%
Very wellplaced (100)
Fairly wellplaced (529)
Not very wellplaced (177)
Not at all wellplaced (71*)
Price pressure from customers is a greater issue for businesses struggling to cope with the economic downturn
Q As a direct result of current economic conditions, has your business experienced any of the following in the past 12 months? Pressure to reduce prices from customers
Those businesses who saw their business performance deteriorate over the past 12 months and do not feel well placed to weather the downturn are also more likely to feel the pressure to reduce prices
from customers.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Business performance over the past 12 months Weathering the downturn
46%
55%
75%
Improved(188)
Remainedstable (264)
Deteriorated(440)
36
37%
31%
30%
26%
25%
22%
19%
10%
Manufacturing (162)
Financial/Business Services (240)
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
Construction (82*)
Public/personal services (87*)
Hotels/catering (41*)
Retail and Distribution (206)
Primary (26*)
Employees in Manufacturing, Financial/business services and Transport/storage/comms are most likely to be willing to accept pay reductions or freezes
Manufacturing businesses experienced the greatest cooperation from employees with 37% reporting that their employees are willing to accept salary reductions or pay freezes. The Retail/distribution and Primary sectors are
least likely to have experienced this willingness among their employees (19% and 10% respectively).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q As a direct result of current economic conditions, has your business experienced any of the following in the past 12 months? Employees are willing to accept salary reductions/pay freezes
37
21%
18%
32%
Improved(188)
Remainedstable (264)
Deteriorated(440)
Salary reductions/pay freezes are more likely to affect businesses whose business performance has deteriorated over the past 12 months
Q As a direct result of current economic conditions, has your business experienced any of the following in the past 12 months? Employees are willing to accept salary reductions/pay freezes
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
21%
25%
23%
28%
Very well placed (100)
Fairly well placed (529)
Not very well placed(177)
Not at all well placed(71*)
Business performance over the past 12 months Weathering the downturn
Understandably, employees of firms whose business performance has deteriorated over the past 12 months are more willing to accept pay cuts and freezes (32%), than staff in companies with stable (18%) or improved
performance (21%).
38
Section 4
Are businesses still taking action to combat the downturn?
39
51%
30%
34%
29%
25%
12%
8%
5%
3%
68%
38%
36%
34%
29%
13%
9%
6%
3%
Pursue new markets / customers
Delay payments to your suppliers
Reduce the number of staff
Reduce the working hours of staff
Consolidate / reduce the number of you suppliers
Cut salaries of staff
Offer unpaid leave to staff
Close all or part of the business
Sell all or part of the business
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Businesses in the region continued to fight the downturn by introducing a range of measures, most pursued new markets/customers
Proportions of businesses who introduced measures as a result of the current economic climate increased or stayed the same across all metrics compared to June. Seven in ten (68%) opened their businesses to new markets or
customers, while 38% had to delay payments to suppliers. A minority had to close (6%) or sell (3%) all or part of the business.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Jun 2009 – 1,120 ; Nov 2009 - 759)
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months?
40
68%
38%
36%
34%
29%
13%
9%
6%
3%
74%
26%
18%
21%
22%
9%
7%
9%
10%
Pursue new markets / customers
Delay payments to your suppliers
Reduce the number of staff
Reduce the working hours of staff
Consolidate / reduce the number of you suppliers
Cut salaries of staff
Offer unpaid leave to staff
Close all or part of the business
Sell all or part of the business
% Undertaken % Expect to undertake
So far businesses have undertaken a range of different measures to combat the downturn, but few plan to undertake further measures
In line with national results, over two thirds (68%) of businesses pursued new markets or customers in the past 12 months and even more (74%) plan to do so in the next 12 months. Around one in ten are considering closing or
selling all or part of the business (9% and 10%) in the next 12 months.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (undertaken – 759, expect to undertake – 682)
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months?
41
50%
47%
46%
42%
38%
32%
27%
24%
18%
21%
17%
12%
14%
16%
34%
18%
Construction
Hotels/catering
Manufacturing
Transport/storage/commsFinancial/Business
Services
Retail and Distribution
Primary
Public/personal services
% Undertaken % Expect to undertake
The Construction sector was most affected by staff reductions, but is expected to consolidate in the next 12 months. Primary sector businesses are more pessimistic with a third expecting to reduce staff in the next year
The Construction sector is most likely to have had to reduce the number of staff in the past 12 months with 50% reporting they had to do so, however, the future is looking more promising with only 18% expecting to reduce staff in the next year. Just over a quarter of
businesses in the Primary sector (27%) had to reduce staff in the past year, but over a third expect to do so in the next year (34%).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has you business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months? Reduce the number of staff
(69*)(61*)
(39*)(34*)
(146)(126)
(39*)(37*)
(194)(181)
(183)(162)
(20*)(19*)
(67*)(60*)
42
76%
72%
71%
70%
68%
61%
60%
57%
71%
88%
77%
75%
70%
68%
56%
64%
Primary
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Manufacturing
Retail and Distribution
Transport/storage/comms
Hotels/ catering
Construction
% Undertaken % Expect to undertake
Firms in the Primary sector are most likely to have pursued new markets in the past 12 months, but Public/personal services companies are most likely to consider this option in the next 12 months
Businesses in the Primary, Public/personal services and Financial/business services sectors were most likely to report that they had pursued new markets or customers in the past year. Slightly higher proportions expect to undertake this measure in the next year across most sectors. Almost nine in ten (88%) of Public/personal services firms plan to pursue new markets in
the next year.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months? Pursue new markets/customers
(20*)(19*)
(67*)(60*)
(194)(181)
(146)(126)
(183)(162)
(39*)(37*)
(39*)(34*)
(69*)(61*)
43
82%
14%
27%
27%
19%
69%
32%
32%
33%
29%
69%
52%
41%
32%
26%
53%
62%
53%
49%
35%
Pursue new markets /customers
Delay payments to yoursuppliers
Reduce the number of staff
Reduce the working hoursof staff
Consolidate / reduce thenumber of you suppliers
Very well placed Fairly well placed Not very well placed Not at all well placed
Businesses who feel very well placed to weather the economic downturn are most likely to have pursued new markets or customers over the past 12 months
Businesses who currently feel not at all well placed to weather the current downturn are likely to have undertaken a range of different measures in the past 12 months. 82% of businesses who say they feel very well placed pursued
new markets or customers in the past year to strengthen their position. Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Very well placed – 72; Fairly well placed – 446; Not very well placed – 166; Not at all well placed – 65)
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months?
44
Section 5
Is business investment improving?
45
18%
41%
34%
7%
Expectations with regard to overall investment are slightly more positive with most expecting higher or stable levels of investment
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what has been the trend during the past 12 months, and what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to overall investment?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Past 12 months – 884, Next 12 months – 836)
Investment levels of two in five (41%) businesses have remained stable over the past 12 months and a similar proportion expects them to remain the same over the next 12 months (44%). Only a small proportion (18%) have experienced higher levels of investments in the past year, but just under a quarter (23%) expect
them to increase for the next 12 months.
23%
44%
26%
7%
Higher
Same
Lower
Not applicable
Past 12 months Next 12 months
46
23%
25%
44%
40%
26%
28% 7%
7%Yorkshire and Humber
England
Higher Same Lower Not applicable
Businesses in the region are slightly more likely to expect their overall levels of investment to remain stable
Results in Yorkshire and Humber are fairly in line with national findings, with a slightly higher proportion (44% vs. 40% in England) expecting their overall levels of investment to remain the same, while slightly smaller proportions expect higher (23% vs. 25% in England) or lower (26% vs. 28% in
England) levels of investment.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (836; England - 4410)
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to overall investment?
47
47%
17%
9%
41%
53%
28%
7%
23%
52%
7%
10%
5%Improve (258)
Remain Stable (359)
Deteriorate (209)
Higher Same Lower Not applicable
Those who are optimistic about the future are more likely expect their level of business investment to increase
In line with June 2009 findings, businesses who feel optimistic about their future are more likely to expect invest in their business to be higher. Almost half of those who expect their business climate to
improve (47%) expect their overall levels of investment to increase, while over half of those with pessimistic outlook expect decreasing investments (52%).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to overall investment?
Q Over the next 12 months do you expect the business climate in which your business operates to generally improve, remain stable, or deteriorate?
48
20%
2%
11%
12%
-6%
-10%
1%
18%
3%
-6%
-14%
-2%
17%
-6%
-9%
-7%
-2%
4%
-1%
Buildings (837)
Plant and machinery (834)
Product and processdevelopment (828)
Marketing and sales (834)
Training and retraining (831)
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Expected investments in buildings remain pessimistic, while outlook for investments in plant and machinery and training and retraining look more optimistic
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to investments in …?*
The net level of businesses that expect to invest more in buildings and marketing/sales have decreased further since June, with net more scores dropping to -9% and 4% respectively. Expectations for investments in plant and machinery as well as training and retraining
are more optimistic, as shown by increase net more scores of -7% and -1%.
Net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Nov 2009 bases shown in brackets)
*Question wording changed slightly in November 2009
49
-9%
-7%
-2%
4%
-1%
-8%
-14%
-1%
10%
0%
Buildings
Plant and machinery
Product and processdevelopment
Marketing and sales
Training and retraining
Yorkshire & Humber England
Expected levels of investments in plant and machinery are more positive in the region compared to national findings
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to investments in …?
The net level of businesses that expect to invest more in marketing and sales is higher in England (10%) than in the region of Yorkshire and Humber (4%). However, the positive trend in plant and machinery investments seems to be characteristic to the Yorkshire & Humber region, with a net more score of -7% compared to -14% national average.
Net higher
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (Nov 2009 bases shown in brackets)
(831)(4404)
(834)(4408)
(828)(4344)
(834)(4376)
(837)(4387)
50
21%
17%
13%
13%
11%
14%
12%
6%
18%
17%
15%
15%
13%
12%
11%
5%
Manufacturing
Primary
Hotels/catering
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Retail and Distribution
Transport/storage/comms
Construction
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Public/ personal service, Hotel/catering and Finance sectors are most inclined to invest in plant and machinery
Manufacturing firms are most optimistic about their investment in plant and machinery over the next 12 months, with 18% expecting higher levels, however this is 3% less than in June. Businesses in the Hotels/catering, Financial/Business services and Public/personal
services sectors are most likely to increase their investment.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to investments in plant and machinery?
(197)(152)
(24*)(25*)
(74*)(37*)
(112)(80*)
(284)(230)
(260)(191)
(62*)(41*)
(103)(76*)
% higher
51
Similar to the NBS results, the BCC survey results show improvements in the investments levels in plant & machinery
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
Q1
02
Q3
02
Q1
03
Q3
03
Q1
04
Q3
04
Q1
05
Q3
05
Q1
06
Q3
06
Q1
07
Q3
07
Q1
08
Q3
08
Q1
09
Q3
09
Plant & Machinery - Manufacturing
Plant & Machinery - Service
Source: BCC Quarterly Economic Survey (UK)
Investments, by Plant & machinery, within manufacturing and servicing sectors
52
38%
39%
41%
30%
25%
39%
26%
17%
30%
30%
25%
24%
24%
17%
17%
5%
Manufacturing
Public/personal servicesFinancial/Business
ServicesRetail and Distribution
Construction
Hotels/catering
Transport/storage/comms
Primary
Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Investment in marketing and sales is expected to decrease in all sectors, most notably in the hotels/catering sector
All sectors in the region are less likely to expect higher investments in marketing and sales than they were in June. The Primary sector is least optimistic with only 5% expecting an increase in investments. Manufacturing and
Public/personal services are the most optimistic with three in ten expecting increased investment in sales and marketing activities (both 30%).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Excluding seasonal variations, what are the expected trends for the next 12 months, with regard to investments in marketing and sales?
(197)(152)
(119)(81*)
(297)(231)
(273)(187)
(103)(77*)
(77*)(39)
(62*)(43*)
(20*)(22*)
% more
53
Section 6
Access to finance and credit
54
17%
20%
23%
20%
Overall
% Undertaken % Expect to undertake
Some businesses across all sectors had to raise or renegotiate sources of finance or credit. The Primary sector is most likely to expect to renegotiate existing finance or credit in the future.
17% of businesses had to raise new sources of finance or credit in the past year, just under a quarter renegotiated existing finances (23%). One in five (20%) plan to do either in the next 12 months. The Services industries are most likely to try to raise new finance or credit in the next year (23% Public/personal, 22% Financial/business), while the
Primary sector is most likely to expect to renegotiate existing finance or credit in the next 12 months (35%).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months?
UndertakenExpect to undertake
UndertakenExpect to undertake
Raise new sources of finance or credit
Renegotiate existing finance or credit
Primary 22% 17% 38% 35%
Manufacturing 21% 20% 23% 24%
Construction 6% 21% 20% 18%
Retail and Distribution 17% 18% 23% 22%
Hotels/catering 19% 18% 28% 11%
Transport/storage/comms 14% 18% 26% 20%
Financial/Business Services
16% 22% 21% 20%
Public/personal services 16% 23% 13% 10%
Rai
se n
ew s
ourc
es o
f fin
ance
or
cred
it
Ren
egot
iate
exi
stin
g fin
anc
e o
r cr
edit
55
17%
17%
10%
20%
20%
20%
1-9
10-49
50+
As expected, those who feel less confident about the downturn continue to be more likely to be in need of new sources of credit or finance
Small and medium sized businesses are more likely to have raised new sources of finance in the past year, compared to large businesses, however, there are no differences in the plans to do so in the next 12 months.
Similar to the findings of June 2009, businesses who feel less confident about their ability to weather the economic downturn are more likely to consider raising new sources of credit or finance.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
9%
15%
18%
34%
14%
18%
26%
29%
Very well placed
Fairly well placed
Not very well placed
Not at all well placed
Size of Business Weathering the downturn
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months? Raise new sources of finance or credit
% Expect to undertake% Undertaken
(501)
(187)
(69*)
(459)
(159)
(62*)
(72*)
(64*)
(446)
(398)
(166)
(149)
(65*)
(61*)
56
22%
27%
16%
20%
20%
20%
1-9
10-49
50+
Those who feel confident about their business’ position are less likely to plan to renegotiate their existing finance or credit
Medium sized businesses were more likely to renegotiate their existing finance or credit in the past 12 months. In line with previous findings, businesses who feel more confident about the position of their business are less likely to
consider renegotiations.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
10%
21%
27%
35%
11%
18%
24%
27%
Very well placed
Fairly well placed
Not very well placed
Not at all well placed
Size of Business Weathering the downturn
Q As a direct result of the current economic conditions, which of the following actions has your business undertaken in the past 12 months / does your business expect to undertake in the next 12 months? Renegotiate existing finance or credit
% Expect to undertake% Undertaken
(501)
(187)
(69*)
(459)
(159)
(62*)
(72*)
(64*)
(446)
(398)
(166)
(149)
(65*)
(61*)
57
39% 38%
44%
32%
40% 38%
44%
38%
27% 28%31%
13%
Overall (206) 1-9 (127) 10-49 (58*) 50+ (20*)
Finding affordable finance or lines of credit Finding organisations who were willing to lend to the business
Satisfying the terms and conditions of potential lenders
Almost two fifths of businesses in the region experienced problems in accessing finance or credit
Two in five businesses in the region experienced problems when trying to find affordable finance or lines of credit (39%) or find organisations who were willing to lend to the business (40%). Over a quarter report difficulties with
satisfying the terms and conditions or potential lenders (27%).Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering who have raised new sources of finance or credit or renegotiated existing finance or credit in the past 12 months (shown in brackets);*Caution: small base size (<100) **Caution: very small base size (<10)
Q What problems, if any, did your business experience in accessing finance or credit?
Size of business
58
39%36%
39%40%
31%
49%
27% 25%29%
Overall (206) Well placed (122) Not well placed (83*)
Finding affordable finance or lines of credit
Finding organisations who were willing to lend to the business
Satisfying the terms and conditions of potential lenders
In line with June’s findings, those businesses less confident about their future are more likely to find it difficult to find organisations who are willing to lend to them
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering who have raised new sources of finance or credit or renegotiated existing finance or credit in the past 12 months (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q What problems, if any, did your business experience in accessing finance or credit?
Weathering the downturn
Businesses who feel not well placed to weather the downturn are more likely to have experienced difficulties with finding organisations who were willing to lend to them (49%) and slightly more likely to have experienced problems when finding affordable finance or lines of
credit (39%) or satisfying the terms and conditions of potential lenders (29%).
59
Section 7
Business cost pressures
60
Cost pressures continued to ease over the past 6 months, however the cost of finance increased compared to the previous wave
Q Which of the following costs have increased for your business over the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2008: 1,083 November 2008: 802; June 2009: 1,161; November 2009: 849)
The proportion of businesses in the region who report cost increases has decreased for most measures and only just over three quarters (76%) reported higher energy costs. 28% reported an increase in cost of finance.
89%
76%
65% 63%
35%38%
9%
1%
88%
72%
58%53%
33% 34%
7%2%
80%
66%
58%
41%
25%30%
10%
2%
76%
64%
53%
37%
24%
7%4%
28%
Energycosts
Transportcosts
Rawmaterials
Staff costs Cost offinance
Propertycosts
Other costs None ofthese
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
61
The number of businesses who expect a rise in energy and transport costs has increased compared to June 2009
Q Which of the following costs do you expect to increase over the next 12 months?
85%
75%
67% 66%
38% 35%
9%
1%
75%
53% 53%47%
30% 32%
7%3%
59% 57% 56%
45%
30% 29%
8%3%
70%63%
52%46%
32% 30%
8%3%
Energycosts
Transportcosts
Rawmaterials
Staffcosts
Propertycosts
Cost offinance
Othercosts
None ofthese
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2008: 1,060; November 2008: 752; June 2009: 1,017; November 2009: 816)
7 in 10 businesses (70%) expect their energy costs to increase over the 12 months, an increase of 11% points on June’s results. The proportion of businesses expecting higher transport cost has also increased, now at 63%.
62
Raw materials and energy costs continue to be the main upward cost pressure for businesses in the region
Q Which of the following presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present?
Raw materials cost present the main upward cost pressure (30%), however, the pressure has softened compared to June 2009 (37%).
41%
37%
30%
37%
11% 11%
4%2%
33%36%
24%
29%
14%
10%
5% 5%
37%
29%26% 26%
12% 13%
7%
2%
30%
26%24% 24%
11%9%
5%2%
Rawmaterials
Energycosts
Staffcosts
Transportcosts
Cost offinance
Propertycosts
Othercosts
None ofthese
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2008: 932; November 2008: 661; June 2009: 974, November 2009: 755)
63
Businesses who feel less confident about their future business climate are more likely to expect costs to increase
Q Which of the following costs to you expect to increase in the next 12 months?
Over three quarters (76%) of those less confident about their future business climate expect energy costs to rise, 67% their transport costs and 59% their raw materials costs.
63%
57%
50%
54%
31%
33%
5%
3%
70%
63%
50%
43%
28%
32%
11%
4%
76%
67%
59%
44%
33%
30%
6%
3%
Energy costs
Transport costs
Raw materials
Staff costs
Cost of finance
Property costs
Other costs
None of these
Improve (250) Remain stable (352) Deteriorate (204)
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (November 2008: 661; June 2009: 974, November 2009: 755)
Business Climate Expectations
64
88%
77%
76%
67%
66%
65%
62%
53%
60%
63%
72%
56%
58%
59%
66%
79%
Hotels/catering (44*)
Retail and Distribution (187)
Primary (27*)
Financial/Business Services (215)
Public/personal services (85*)
Transport/storage/comms (40*)
Manufacturing (145)
Construction (71*)
Energy Costs Transport Costs
The Hotels/catering sector is expected to be most affected by rising energy costs, while the Construction sector is most likely to expect an increase in transport costs
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering finance or credit in the past 12 months; Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Which of the following costs to you expect to increase in the next 12 months?
Nine in ten (88%) Hotels/catering businesses expect their energy costs to rise, six in ten (60%) their transport costs. Construction firms are most likely to be concerned about an increase in transport costs
(79%), while energy costs are a smaller issue for this sector (53%).
65
68%
32%
63%
37%
55%
43%
47%
52%
Yes
No
6%
62%
7%
56%
6%
49%
33%
10%
6%
41%
44%
8%
Yes - all these increases
Yes - some increases
No - costs increased but didnot pass on
No - no increase in costs
Jun 2008 Nov 2008 Jun 2009 Nov 2009
Businesses continue to feel strong competition as less than half report to pass on costs to their customers
Q Have you passed on any increased costs to your customers in the past 12 months?
Less than half of businesses passed on costs to their customers in November (47%), a considerable drop from 55% in June. 44% stated that their costs did increase but they chose not to pass them on to customers.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (June 2008: 1,128; November 2008: 836; June 2009: 1,194, November 2009: 903)
66
60%
57%
56%
49%
45%
45%
44%
35%
40%
43%
44%
51%
52%
55%
54%
64%
Retail and Distribution (211)
Construction (82*)
Manufacturing (162)
Transport/storage/comms (47*)
Hotels/catering (43*)
Primary (25*)
Public/personal services (89*)
Financial/Business Services (242)
Yes No
The retail sector is most likely to have passed on costs to their customers, financial/business services firms are least likely
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Have you passed on any increased costs to your customers in the past 12 months?
The majority of Retail/distribution (60%), Construction (57%) and Manufacturing (56%) businesses continued to pass on costs to their customers, while the remaining sectors, most notably
Financial/business services (64%), chose not to pass on any costs.
67
Section 8
Business strategies
68
Over 6 in 10 businesses in the region do not have a formal growth plan. Financial services and Manufacturing firms are more likely to have a growth plan.
35%
61%
33%
64%
30%
67%
35%
64%
4%2%
3%1%
Yes
No
Don'tknow
Jun 2008 (1,117) Nov 2008 (837)
Jun 2009 (1,200) Nov 2009 (900)
The proportion of businesses with a formal growth plan has increased by 5% points since June and is now at 35%, still below the national average of 39%. Financial/business services companies are most likely to have a growth plan (44%), followed by Manufacturing businesses (41%). In line with June 2009, the Construction sector is least likely to
have growth plans (15%).
Yes NoDon’t know
Financial/Business Services (243)
44% 54% 1%
Manufacturing (161) 41% 59% *
Public/personal services (88*)
40% 58% 2%
Transport/storage/comms (44*)
39% 61% 0%
Retail and Distribution (211) 32% 67% 2%
Hotels/catering (44*) 28% 71% 1%
Primary (28*) 24% 76% 0%
Construction (79*) 15% 83% 2%
Q Does your company have a formal business growth plan?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering *Caution: small base size (<100)
69
Those who feel well placed to weather downturn are more likely to have a formal growth plan, while only 16% of those who feel not at all well placed have a growth plan
Q Does your company have a formal business growth plan?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Those who feel well placed to weather the downturn are more likely to have a formal business growth plan. Almost half (48%) of those who feel ‘very well placed’ have a plan compared with
16% of those who feel ‘not at all well placed’.
48%
40%
19%
16%
51%
58%
80%
83%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Very well placed(101)
Fairly well placed(528)
Not very wellplaced (178)
Not at all wellplaced (75*)
Yes No Don't know
Wea
ther
do
wnt
urn
70
Businesses who report an improvement in their business performance are more likely to have a growth plan
Q Does your company have a formal business growth plan?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Those whose business performance improved over the past 12 months are more likely to have a business growth plan (49%). Under a third of those who said their performance remained stable (30%)
or deteriorated (32%) currently have a formal growth plan.
49%
30%
32%
50%
69%
67%
1%
1%
1%
Improved (190)
Remained stable(263)
Deteriorated (444)
Yes No Don't know
Bus
ines
s pe
rfor
man
ce
71
Large businesses are most likely to have a formal growth plan
Q Does your company have a formal business growth plan?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Almost three quarters of large businesses have a growth plan (73%), compared to half of medium sized businesses (50%) and under three in ten small businesses (29%).
29%
50%
73%
70%
48%
26%
1%
1%
1%
1 - 9 (617)
10 - 49 (209)
50+ (72*)
Yes No Don't know
Bus
ines
s si
ze
72
36%
58%
5%
Q Has your business introduced a new product or process innovation in the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (703)
Over a quarter of businesses in the region introduced a new product innovation (27%) and one in ten (9%) a process innovation in the past 12 months. 44% of Retail/distribution businesses introduced
either. Construction businesses were least innovative in the past year (14%).
Yes
No, neither
Don’t know
9%
27%
New product innovation
New process innovation
Over a third of businesses introduced innovations in the past 12 months
Yes
Retail and Distribution (165) 44%
Financial/Business Services (191)
40%
Public/personal services (66*)
38%
Transport/storage/comms (37*)
38%
Hotels/catering (33*) 36%
Manufacturing (111) 35%
Primary (24*) 33%
Construction (74*) 14%
73
Large businesses are most likely to invest in innovation. Findings also suggest a positive impact of innovation on business performance
Q Has your business introduced a new product or process innovation in the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
24%
35%
54%
9%
8%
14%
61%
53%
20%
5%
4%
11%
1 - 9 (506)
10 - 49 (154)
50+ (41*)
Yes - a new product innovation Yes - a new process innovation
No Don't know
Almost seven in ten large businesses introduced an innovation in the past year (68%), compared to a third (33%) of small and two in five (43%) medium sized businesses.
74
Businesses whose performance has improved are most likely to have had introduced a new product or process innovation
Q Has your business introduced a new product or process innovation in the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
29%
29%
25%
16%
8%
7%
50%
56%
63%
4%
7%
5%
Improved (135)
Remained stable(209)
Deteriorated (357)
Yes - a new product innovation Yes - a new process innovation
No Don't know
Firms whose business performance has improved in the past year are most likely to have invested in new process innovations (16%), while businesses with deteriorating performance were least likely to
innovate (32%).
Bus
ines
s pe
rfor
man
ce
75
80%
38%
25%
6%
81%
29%
23%
4%
Information tehnologies inc. electronic andcommunication technologies
Engineering and materials technolgies
Environmental ,low carbon or sustainable technologies
Biology ,or life sciences technologies
Yorkshire & Humber (437) England (2446)
Most businesses in the region use information technologies. Engineering and materials technologies are more prevalent in the region
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Does your business use any of the following technologies in your production process?
Four in five businesses use information technologies (80%). Almost four in ten also use engineering and materials technologies (38%), considerably more than in England overall (29%). Usage of
environmental, low carbon or sustainable technologies are fairly in line with the national average.
76
Public/personal services companies are most likely to use biology or life sciences technologies, while environmental, low carbon, sustainable technologies are most common among Construction businesses
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Does your business use any of the following technologies in your production process?
90% of Financial/business services companies use information technologies, while 81% of Manufacturing firms use engineering and materials technologies.
Information technologies
Engineering and materials
technologies
Environmental, low carbon, sustainable
technologies
Biology or life sciences technologies
Retail and Distribution (90*) 71% 48% 29% 6%
Financial/Business Services (135)
90% 22% 19% 3%
Public/personal services (37*) 92% 30% 30% 16%
Transport/storage/comms (26*) 87% 15% 18% 0%
Hotels/catering (10*) 100% 0% 13% 0%
Manufacturing (98*) 54% 81% 17% 4%
Primary (11*) 84% 52% 31% 11%
Construction (29*) 54% 61% 46% 0%
77
48%
39%
33%
10%
55%
36%
29%
9%
Information technologies inc. electronic andcommunication technologies
Engineering and materials technolgies
Environmental ,low carbon or sustainable technologies
Biology ,or life sciences technologies
Yorkshire & Humber (184) England (1089)
Fewer businesses in the region sell information technologies compared to England overall
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Does your business sell products within any of the following technologies?
Less than half of businesses in the region sell information technologies (48%), compared to 55% overall. Engineering and materials technologies (39%) and environmental products (33%) as well as
biology or life science technologies (10%) are slightly more common in Yorkshire than England overall.
78
The proportion of businesses taking steps to reduce their CO2 emissions continues to increase but remains below the national average
Q Have you taken any steps to reduce the CO2 emissions of your business?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
The proportion of businesses taking steps to reduce their CO2 emissions has continued to increase between June and November 2009: 45% of businesses in the region now take action to reduce their CO2 emissions, slightly below
the national average of 50%.
27%
33%
42%
45%
43%
39%
38%
48%
30%
28%
20%
7%
June 2008 (1,123)
November 2008(832)
June 2009 (1,173)
November 2009(902)
Yes No Don't know/Not applicable
79
Hotels/ catering and Transport/storage/comms businesses are most likely to take action to reduce CO2 overall
49%
49%
46%
45%
38%
34%
47%
Hotels/catering (43*)
Transport/storage/comms(47*)
Financial and BusinessServices (242)
Retail and Distribution(210)
Manufacturing (161)
Construction (80*)
Primary (28*)
Q Have you taken any steps to reduce the CO2 emissions of your business?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
39%
64%
74%
1 - 9 (618)
10 - 49(208)
50+ (74*)
Sector Business size
80
70%
48%
44%
39%
27%
13%
9%
7%
47%
48%
38%
39%
25%
25%
31%
12%
Adopting a recycling scheme
Adopting an energy saving scheme
Adopting a waste minimisation scheme
Introduction/purchasing environmentallyfriendlyproducts
Adopting a water saving scheme
Accessing consultancy or advice
Accessing external support grants
Achieving formal environmental accreditation
% Undertaken (503) % Expect to undertake (385)
The majority of businesses in the region adopted a recycling scheme in the past 12 months and just under half are planning to do so in the next year
The majority of businesses in the region adopted a recycling scheme (70%), however, this is below the national average of 76%. Only one in ten (9%) accessed external support grants in the past 12 months, but
almost a third (31%) plan to do so in the next year.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Have you undertaken or do you plan to undertake any of the following actions to improve your environmental performance?
81
Section 9
Business collaboration and support
82
The majority of businesses have heard of Business Link, however, less than a third have used Business Link in the past 12 months
92%
88%
92%
93%
8%
12%
8%
7%
June 2008(1,090)
November2008 (827)
June 2009(1,185)
November2009 (903)
Q Have you heard of Business Link?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100) **Question wording different (no time scale set in previous waves)
Over nine in ten businesses in the region are aware of Business Link (93%). A third (31%) have used the service in the past 12 months – this compares to nearly three quarters (72%) of the Business Link sample. A quarter (27%) of businesses plan to use
Business Link in the next 12 months (62% of the Business Link sample).
46%
38%
48%
31%
51%
58%
49%
67%
3%
5%
3%
2%
June 2008(955)
November2008 (666)
June 2009(1,037)
November2009 (834)
Q Have you used Business Link in the past 12 months**?
Q Do you plan to use Business Link in the next 12 months?
June 2009(5,397)
Yes No Don't know / Not applicable27% 40% 33%November2009 (822)
83
Hotels/catering businesses and Manufacturing firms are most inclined to use Business Link in the next 12 months
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets); Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Have you heard of Business Link? / Have you used Business Link in the last 12 months? / Do you plan to use Business Link in the next 12 months?
Business Link is most known among Public/personal services (97%) and Manufacturing (97%) businesses, the latter also being the most likely to have used the service in the past 12 months. Of the Business Link sample Primary and Financial/Business service firms
are most likely to have used the service. Hotels/catering (36%) and Manufacturing (35%) businesses are most likely to plan to use Business Link in the next 12 months – Construction firms in the Business Link sample are most likely to use the service
Heard of BL Used BL Plan to use BL
Retail and Distribution (210) 93% 26% 24%
Financial/Business Services (243) 93% 36% 31%
Public/personal services (88*) 97% 33% 29%
Transport/storage/comms (47*) 92% 35% 22%
Hotels/catering (43*) 92% 34% 36%
Manufacturing (162) 97% 38% 35%
Primary (27*) 92% 28% 17%
Construction (81*) 86% 24% 17%
84
96%
93%
92%
36%
31%
30%
37%
24%
25%
Improved
Remained stable
Deteriorated
Heard of Business Link Used Business Link Plan to use Business Link
Businesses whose business performance has improved over the past 12 months are more likely to have used Business Link’s service and are also most likely to plan to use it in the next year
Businesses who reported that their business performance has improved in the past year are most likely to have used Business Link (36%). Almost four in ten (37%) also plan to use Business Link in the next 12
months.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Have you heard of Business Link? / Have you used Business Link in the last 12 months? / Do you plan to use Business Link in the next 12 months?
(188)
(180)
(179)
(266)
(446)
(243)
(238)
(403)
(402)
85
In line with the national average, a quarter of businesses think of themselves as a social enterprise
25%
75%
Q Do you think of your business as a social enterprise?
Yes
No
49%
48%
27%
22%
19%
15%
13%
7%
Hotels/catering (41*)
Public/personal services(85*)
Retail and Distribution(201)
Primary (27*)
Transport/storage/comms(46*)
Manufacturing (161)
Financial/BusinessServices (239)
Construction (79*)
A quarter of businesses think of themselves as a social enterprise. This figure rises to almost half for the Hotels/catering (49%) and the Public/personal services sectors (48%). Only 7% of Construction businesses
consider themselves a social enterprise.
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
86
Section 10
Human resources and training
87
The positive trend in the markets is reflected in the slightly lower proportion of businesses, compared to June 2009, reporting that they are operating below capacity
Q Is your present level of output below capacity (i.e. are you working below a full rate of operation)?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
68% of businesses report that they are currently operating below capacity, a slight drop of 2% points from June’s results. The Hotels and catering sector remains most affected, with 76% of businesses
operating below capacity.
63%
63%
70%
68%
37%
37%
30%
32%
June 2008 (1,111)
November 2008 (821)
June 2009 (1,174)
November 2009 (898)
Yes NoSector % Yes
Hotels and catering (44*) 76
Manufacturing (163) 75
Retail and distribution (206) 73
Construction (82*) 72
Financial/Business Services (240) 69
Public/ personal services (87*) 67
Transport/ storage/ comms (46*) 61
Primary (28*) 43
88
The large majority of businesses have not had difficulties in filling staff vacancies, reflecting the current economic climate
23%
17%
11%
12%
71%
79%
83%
84%
6%
4%
6%
4%
June 2008(1,098)
November2008 (816)
June 2009(1,116)
November2009 (839)
Q Did you have any staff vacancies that you found hard to fill, or could not fill, during the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
12% of businesses had difficulties filling staff vacancies in the past 12 months and the same proportion expect to have the same problems in the next 12 months.
Q And do you expect to have any in the next 12 months?
19%
12%
10%
12%
63%
72%
74%
73%
17%
16%
16%
15%
June 2008(1,093)
November2008 (806)
June 2009(1,102)
November2009 (839)
Yes No Don't know
89
Just under half of businesses have a training plan with Public/personal services sector businesses being most likely to have one.
Q Does your company have a staff or employee training plan?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
Just under half of businesses (48%) half a staff or employee training plan, compared to 52% in England overall. Public/personal services businesses are most likely to have a training plan (62%), while only a third of
Construction firms have a formal development plan (33%).
48%52%
1%
Yes
No
Don’t know62%
55%
49%
47%
47%
45%
40%
33%
Public/personal services(86*)
Hotels/catering (44*)
Financial/BusinessServices (237)
Transport/storage/comms(45*)
Manufacturing (161)
Primary (27*)
Retail and Distribution(206)
Construction (79*)
90
67%
71%
16%
13%
8%
70%
72%
14%
14%
9%
Internal training
External training
Train to Gain
National ApprenticeshipService
Investors in people
Used in the past 12 months (586) Expect to use in next 12 months (497)
The majority of businesses currently provide internal or external training and slightly higher proportions expect to do so in the next 12 months
External training is the most popular training plan among businesses in the region and was used by 71% in the past 12 months, and a similar proportion plan to use it in the next year (72%).
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Q Have you used any of the following training plans in the past 12 months? Do you expect to use any of these programmes in the next 12 months?
91
Appendix A
Additional charts of interest
92
The majority of sales are regional, with only a minority of companies doing business outside of the UK
Q Please estimate the proportion of your sales in the following areas…
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
The majority of businesses are reliant on regional sales, with 69% having over 50% of their sales in the region, and a third (33%) estimating that 50% or more of their sales are in the rest of the UK. Only a minority have sales outside of
the UK.
30%
37%
18%
44%
58%
52%
10%
20%
7%
5%
69%
34%2%
2%
6%
5%
Within region(845)
Rest of UK (615)
Within the EU(300)
Outside the EU(249)
0% 1-25% 26-50% Over 50%
93
Similarly, the majority of purchases are made within the region
Q Please estimate the proportion of purchases in the following areas…
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
Purchases are also largely concentrated in the UK, with six in ten businesses (59%) making over 50% of their purchases in the region, and three in ten (31%) doing so in the rest of the UK.
Only a minority make purchases outside of the UK.
23%
33%
24%
44%
53%
39%
16%
23%
11%
15%
59%
30%
13%
13%
3%
1%Within region
(765)
Rest of UK (659)
Within the EU(281)
Outside the EU(226)
0% 1-25% 26-50% Over 50%
94
37%
49%
46%
43%
40%
22%
10%
30%
37%
31%
45%
48%
43%
19%
16%
12%
28%
67%
Yorkshire and Humber
Primary
Construction
Manufacturing
Hotels/catering
Retail and Distribution
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Transport/storage/comms
Jun 2009
Nov 2009
(63*)
In November, Hotels/catering and Manufacturing businesses are more likely to report that raw materials and bought-in services are the main upward cost pressure
Q Which of the following presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present? – Raw materials and bought-in services (other than energy)
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
(65*)
(103)
(240)
(52*)
(22*)
(92*)
(172)
(228)
(19*)
(142)
(35*)
(177)
(79*)
(201)
(37*)
95
26%
52%
20%
12%
22%
21%
31%
24%
26%
45%
22%
18%
27%
18%
19%
30%
22%
39%
Yorkshire and Humber
Primary
Construction
Manufacturing
Hotels/catering
Retail and Distribution
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Transport/storage/comms
Jun 2009
Nov 2009
(63*)
The construction sector is most affected by transport costs
Q Which of the following presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present? – Transport costs
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
(65*)
(103)
(240)
(52*)
(22*)
(92*)
(172)
(228)
(19*)
(142)
(35*)
(177)
(79*)
(201)
(37*)
96
26%
18%
20%
30%
21%
22%
16%
24%
17%
24%
23%
37%
24%
33%
19%
10%
19%
47%
Yorkshire and Humber
Primary
Construction
Manufacturing
Hotels/catering
Retail and Distribution
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Transport/storage/comms
Jun 2009
Nov 2009
(63*)
Hotel/catering businesses and Public/personal services firms are most likely to report staff costs as their main upward cost pressure
Q Which of the following presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present? – Staff costs
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
(65*)
(103)
(240)
(52*)
(22*)
(92*)
(172)
(228)
(19*)
(142)
(35*)
(177)
(79*)
(201)
(37*)
97
26%
36%
39%
20%
32%
42%
47%
36%
39%
48%
37%
49%
47%
50%
34%
41%
Primary
Construction
Manufacturing
Hotels/catering
Retail and Distribution
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Transport/storage/comms
Jun 2009
Nov 2009
(82*)
In November 2009 businesses were less likely to pass on cost increases to their customers
Q Have you passed on any increased costs to your customers in the past 12 months?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
(80*)
(124)
(303)
(66*)
(24*)
(199)
(262)
(25*)
(162)
(43*)
(211)
(89*)
(242)
(47*)
(112)
% No, costs increased, but did not pass on
98
29%
19%
25%
61%
27%
20%
25%
26%
31%
13%
28%
42%
35%
24%
17%
30%
30%
35%
Yorkshire and Humber
Primary
Construction
Manufacturing
Hotels/catering
Retail and Distribution
Public/personal services
Financial/BusinessServices
Transport/storage/comms
Jun 2009
Nov 2009
(63*)
Hotel/catering businesses are most likely to report energy costs as the main upward cost pressure
Q Which of the following presents the main upward cost pressure on your business at present? – Energy costs
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
(65*)
(103)
(240)
(52*)
(22*)
(92*)
(172)
(228)
(19*)
(142)
(35*)
(177)
(79*)
(201)
(37*)
99
The recession keeps affecting smaller businesses more severely with over two thirds operating below capacity
Q Is your present level of output below capacity?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets) *Caution: small base size (<100)
Businesses with less than 50 employees are more likely to be working below capacity (67% of those with 1-9 employees and 75% of those with 10-49 compared with 59% of those with 50+).
67%
75%
59%
33%
25%
41%
1-9 (613)
10-49 (209)
50+ (74)
Yes No
100
Those whose business performance deteriorated are more likely to operate under capacity
Q Is your present level of output below capacity?
Base: All businesses in Yorkshire and Humber answering (shown in brackets)
Unsurprisingly, those whose business performance has deteriorated are most likely to say that they are operating below capacity (86% compared with 42% of those with improved performance).
42%
60%
86%
58%
40%
14%
Improved (193)
Remained stable(260)
Deteriorated (442)
Yes No
Bu
sin
ess
Pe
rfo
rman
ce
101
Appendix B
Guide to statistical reliability
102
Guide to Statistical Reliability -1
The variation between the sample results and the “true” values can be predicted from knowledge of the size of the samples on which the results are based and the number of times that a particular answer is given. The confidence with which this prediction can be made is usually chosen to be 95% - that is, the chances are 95 in 100 that the “true” value will fall within a specified range, based on a random ‘pure’ sample of the population.
The table below illustrates the predicted ranges for different sample sizes and percentage results at the “95% confidence interval”.
Sample Size 10% or 90 % 30% or 70% 50%
+ + +5,000 1 1 12,500 1 2 21,000 2 3 3800 3 4 4
Approximate sampling tolerances applicable to percentages at or near
these levels
103
Guide to Statistical Reliability -2
Therefore, with a total sample size of 1,000 completed interviews, where 50% give a particular answer, the chances are 19 in 20 that the “true” value (which would have been obtained if the whole population had been interviewed) will fall within the range of +3 percentage points from the sample result; in fact the actual result is proportionately more likely to be closer to the centre (50%) than the extremes of the range (47% or 53%).
When the results are compared between separate sub-groups within a sample, different results may be obtained. The difference may be “real,” or it may occur by chance (because not everyone in the population has been interviewed). To test if the difference is a real one - i.e. if it is “statistically significant” - it is again necessary to know the total population, the size of the samples, the percentage giving a certain answer, and the degree of confidence chosen. Assuming the “95% confidence interval”, the differences between the two sub-sample results must be greater than the values given in the table on the next slide:
104
Guide to Statistical Reliability -3
10% or 90% 30% or 70% 50%+ + +1 2 22 3 32 3 4
5000 vs 50002500 vs 25004000 vs 1000
Differences required for significance at or near these
percentage levelsSample sizes
For example, if 50% of the 4,000 sample give a particular answer, and 51% of the 1,000 sample give the same answer, there is not a statistically significant difference between the responses of the two groups. If however there is 54% of the 1,000 sample giving the same answer there is a significant difference as the there is at least 4 points difference
105
If you have any questions regarding this report please contact:
Joe Marshall
Director
+44 (0)207 347 3408
Lisa Nicholl
Senior Research Executive
+44 (0)207 347 3407