Research and analysis
Small Business Survey 2015: businesses with employees - data
Updated 12 May 2016
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| Table 1 |
|---|
| A0. Whether a charity. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 2 |
| A1. Number of sites. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know/ Uncertain |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 3 |
| A2. Number of employees. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Zero unregistered |
| Zero registered |
| Micro 1 - 4 |
| Micro 5 - 9 |
| Small 10 - 19 |
| Small 20 - 49 |
| Medium 50 - 99 |
| Medium 100 - 249 |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 4 |
| A2A. Number of working owners/partners. |
| (Base: All except charities) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Not applicable |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 5 |
| A2B. Number of temporary/ casual staff. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| None |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 6 |
| A2C. Number of contractor/ agency staff. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| None |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 7 |
| A3/A4. Sector (SIC 2007 1 digit) |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| ABDE - Primary |
| C - Manufacturing |
| F - Construction |
| G - Wholesale/ Retail |
| H - Transport/ Storage |
| I - Accommodation/ Food |
| J - Information/ Communication |
| KL - Financial/ Real estate |
| M - Professional/ Scientific |
| N - Administrative/ Support |
| P - Education |
| Q - Health/ Social work |
| R - Arts/ Entertainment |
| S - Other service |
| Table 8 |
| A5. Legal status. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Private limited company, limited by shares (LTD.) |
| Sole proprietorship |
| Partnership |
| Private company limited by guarantee |
| Limited liability partnership |
| Public Ltd Company (PLC) |
| A trust |
| Community Interest Company (CIC, limited by guarantee or shares) |
| Private Unlimited Company |
| An unincorporated association |
| A Co-operative |
| Industrial and Provident Society |
| Friendly Society |
| Foreign Company |
| Company - unspecified type |
| Other |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Summary: Any company |
| Summary: Any partnership |
| Table 9 |
| A6. Age of business. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Less than one year |
| 1 year |
| 2 years |
| 3 years |
| 4 years |
| 5 years |
| 6 - 10 years |
| 11 - 20 years |
| More than 20 years |
| Don't know |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 10 |
| UK regions |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| East Midlands |
| East of England |
| London |
| North East |
| North West |
| South East |
| South West |
| West Midlands |
| Yorkshire & the Humber |
| Scotland |
| Wales |
| Northern Ireland |
| Table 11 |
| A10. Whether have separate business premises. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Separate premises |
| Work from home premises |
| Refused |
| Table 12 |
| A11. Do you mainly do your work at this location? |
| (Base: All that work from home premises) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Refused |
| Table 13 |
| A12. Is your business a family owned business, that is one which is majority owned by members of the same family? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 14 |
| A13. For how many generations has the business been in the control of the same family? |
| (Base: All family owned businesses that are not sole proprietors) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 15 |
| A14. Ownership of business. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| It is owned by a founder(s) who work in the business |
| It is owned by directors/partners |
| It is a charitable trust |
| It is owned/part-owned by another company |
| It is owned by private shareholders who do not work in the business |
| It is owned by the employees, not all of whom are Directors/partners |
| Other |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Public Limited Company |
| Family Business with more than one owner |
| Table 16 |
| A16. You said earlier that your business is a sole proprietorship. Can I just confirm that there are no other managers involved in running the business except yourself? |
| (Base: All sole proprietors) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| There are NO others involved |
| There are others involved |
| Don't know |
| Table 17 |
| A17. Does your business have any directors in day to day control of your business who are not owners or partners? |
| (Base: All except sole proprietors with no other managers) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 18 |
| A17/A2A. Total number of directors and partners. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 19 |
| A18. How many, if any, of your directors and partners are women? |
| (Base: All with multiple working directors/partners) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 20 |
| A19. How many, if any, of your directors and partners are ethnic minority groups? |
| (Base: All with multiple working directors/partners) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3-5 |
| 6-10 |
| 11+ |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 21 |
| A20. Which ethnic groups do the owners, partners or directors belong to? |
| (Base: All with multiple working directors/partners from ethnic minorities) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Mixed White and Black Caribbean |
| Mixed White and Black African |
| Mixed White and Asian |
| Any other mixed background |
| Indian |
| Pakistani |
| Bangladeshi |
| Any other Asian background |
| Black Caribbean |
| Black African |
| Any other Black background |
| Chinese |
| Arab |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller |
| Any other ethnic group |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 22 |
| A21. Is more than 50% of the business owned by women? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 23 |
| A22. Ethnic group of sole owner. |
| (Base: All with one owner) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| White British (including white English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish) |
| White Irish |
| Any other white background |
| Mixed White and Black Caribbean |
| Mixed White and Black African |
| Mixed White and Asian |
| Any other mixed background |
| Indian |
| Pakistani |
| Bangladeshi |
| Any other Asian background |
| Black Caribbean |
| Black African |
| Any other Black background |
| Chinese |
| Arab |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller |
| Any other ethnic group |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 24 |
| A23. Which of these types of customers have you had in the last 12 months? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Private sector businesses |
| Individual consumers |
| The public sector |
| Charities or third sector organisations |
| Other |
| None of them |
| Don't know |
| Table 25 |
| A24. Would you say that your customers are mainly based...? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Locally, e.g. within 30 miles of your main site |
| Across your region |
| Nationally |
| Or Internationally |
| None of these |
| Don't know |
| Table 26 |
| Whether business is women-led |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Table 27 |
| Whether business is MEG-led |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Table 28 |
| B1. How many employees did the business have on the payroll 12 months ago across all UK sites (still excluding owners and partners)? |
| (Base: All trading for at least one year) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1-4 |
| 5-9 |
| 10-19 |
| 20 - 49 |
| 50 - 99 |
| 100 - 249 |
| 250+ |
| Don't know/ Uncertain |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 29 |
| B2. How many employees did the business have on the payroll 12 months ago across all UK sites (still excluding owners and partners)? |
| (Base: All trading for at least one year) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Has fewer employees now |
| Same number |
| Has more employees now |
| Don't know |
| Table 30 |
| B5. How many employees do you expect the business to have on the payroll in the UK in twelve month's time (excluding owners and partners)? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| 0 |
| 1-4 |
| 5-9 |
| 10-19 |
| 20 - 49 |
| 50 - 99 |
| 100 - 249 |
| 250+ |
| Don't know/ Uncertain |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 31 |
| B6. Whether will have more employees in 12 months time. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| More than currently |
| About the same |
| Fewer |
| Don't know |
| Table 32 |
| C1. Whether export services. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 33 |
| C1A/B. Percentage of turnover for service exports. |
| (Base: All with service exports) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Up to 5% of turnover |
| Up to 10% |
| Up to 25% |
| Up to 50% |
| Up to 75% |
| Up to 90% |
| More than 90% |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 34 |
| C2. Whether export goods. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 35 |
| C2A/B. Percentage of turnover for goods exports. |
| (Base: All with goods exports) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Up to 5% of turnover |
| Up to 10% |
| Up to 25% |
| Up to 50% |
| Up to 75% |
| Up to 90% |
| More than 90% |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 36 |
| C1/C2. Whether export goods or services. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 37 |
| C3. Do you have plans to start exporting or licensing your goods or services outside the UK? |
| (Base: All that do not sell outside of UK) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes - next 12 months |
| Yes - further in the future |
| No |
| Table 38 |
| C4. How many years has your business been selling goods and services or licensing its products overseas? |
| (Base: All with exports) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| As long as has been trading |
| Less than one year |
| 1 year |
| 2 years |
| 3 years |
| 4 years |
| 5 years |
| 6 - 10 years |
| 11 - 20 years |
| More than 20 years |
| Don't know |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 39 |
| C4a. Do you plan to increase your levels of exports over the next few years? |
| (Base: All with exports) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 40 |
| C5. During the time you have been selling or licensing products overseas, have you had overseas sales every year or have there been some years where you haven't made any sales at all to overseas customers? |
| (Base: All selling exports for more than 2 years) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Overseas sales every year (since started doing business overseas) |
| Some years with no overseas sales |
| Don't know |
| Table 41 |
| C5a. Why have there have been some years with no overseas sales? |
| (Base: All with some years with no exports) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Only have occasional 'one-off' orders from overseas |
| Don't have the time to pursue exporting |
| Prefer to concentrate on UK markets |
| Exporting is not profitable |
| Exporting is too risky |
| Lack knowledge of how best to export |
| Other |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 42 |
| C6. Does your business have any goods or services that are suitable for exporting? |
| (Base: All not exporting with no plans to do so) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 43 |
| Summary: F4. How capable would you say your business is at the following? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| People management |
| Developing and implementing a business plan and strategy |
| Developing and introducing new products or services |
| Accessing external finance |
| Operational improvement |
| Table 44 |
| F4.1 Capability for people management. |
| (Base: All employers) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Very poor |
| Poor |
| Average |
| Strong |
| Very strong |
| Don't know |
| Not applicable |
| Summary: Poor |
| Summary: Strong |
| Table 45 |
| F4.2 Capability for developing and implementing a business plan and strategy. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Very poor |
| Poor |
| Average |
| Strong |
| Very strong |
| Don't know |
| Not applicable |
| Summary: Poor |
| Summary: Strong |
| Table 46 |
| F4.3 Capability for developing and introducing new products or services. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Very poor |
| Poor |
| Average |
| Strong |
| Very strong |
| Don't know |
| Not applicable |
| Summary: Poor |
| Summary: Strong |
| Table 47 |
| F4.4 Capability for accessing external finance. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Very poor |
| Poor |
| Average |
| Strong |
| Very strong |
| Don't know |
| Not applicable |
| Summary: Poor |
| Summary: Strong |
| Table 48 |
| F4.5 Capability for operational improvement. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Very poor |
| Poor |
| Average |
| Strong |
| Very strong |
| Don't know |
| Not applicable |
| Summary: Poor |
| Summary: Strong |
| Table 49 |
| F5. Do you have a formal written business plan? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes - kept up to date |
| Yes - but not kept up to date |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 50 |
| G2. Which of the following would you say are major obstacles to the success of your business in general? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Competition in the market |
| Regulations/red tape |
| Taxation, VAT, PAYE, National Insurance, business rates |
| Late payment |
| Staff recruitment and skills |
| Workplace pensions |
| Obtaining finance |
| Availability/cost of suitable premises |
| Any other major issues or obstacles |
| None of these |
| Don't know/No opinion |
| Refused |
| Table 51 |
| G3. Which of these are the obstacles that affect your business concerning recruitment and skills? |
| (Base: All for whom recruitment/skills is a major obstacle) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Recruiting staff |
| Shortage of skills within the external labour market |
| Shortage of skills within the existing workplace |
| Shortage of managerial skills/expertise |
| Anything else |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 52 |
| G4. Are workplace pensions an obstacle for your business for any of these reasons? |
| (Base: All for whom workplace pensions is a major obstacle) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| You/your business is having or will have difficulty paying pension contributions |
| You/your business finds it difficult to implement automatic enrolment in workplace pensions |
| Or are there other reasons why workplace pensions are a major obstacle |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 53 |
| G5. Which regulations do you consider to be major obstacles to the success of your business? |
| (Base: All for whom regulations/red tape is a major obstacle) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Health and safety |
| Tax-related |
| Employment regulations |
| Sector specific regulations |
| Financial services regulations |
| Local Authority/council regulations |
| Environmental regulations |
| Planning applications |
| Building and construction regulations |
| Providing information/record-keeping |
| No specific regulations/all regulations |
| Other |
| None in particular |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 54 |
| G7. Is it the level of tax that presents a major obstacle to your business, the effort required in compliance with tax returns, or both of these? |
| (Base: All for whom tax is a major obstacle) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Level of tax |
| Effort required in compliance |
| Both of these |
| None of these |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 55 |
| H1. Is the main bank or building society account you use for business purposes a business or current account? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Current account in the name of the business |
| A personal current account |
| Both equally |
| Other |
| No dealings with banks/building societies |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 56 |
| H3A.1 Whether give trade credit. |
| (Base: All except charities) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 57 |
| H3A.2 Whether receive trade credit. |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Table 58 |
| H3b. Do you have a problem with customers paying you later than you require them to in your normal terms of business? |
| (Base: All that give credit) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Big problem |
| Small problem |
| No problem |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Table 59 |
| H4. Have you tried to obtain external finance for your business in the past 12 months? |
| (Base: All Respondents) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Yes - once |
| Yes - twice |
| Yes - three to five times |
| Yes - six to ten times |
| Yes - more than ten |
| No |
| Don't know |
| Refused |
| Summary: Any finance sought in last 12 months |
| Base for stats |
| Mean |
| Standard error |
| Table 60 |
| Summary: H5 |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Bank overdraft |
| Commercial mortgage |
| Credit cards |
| Equity Finance |
| Factoring/invoice discounting |
| Leasing or hire purchase |
| Loan from a bank, building society or other financial institution |
| Mezzanine finance |
| Peer to peer/ Crowd funding platform for debt |
| Public equity |
| Charitable/ Trust/ Grant |
| Government schemes |
| Other loans (inc. personal finance) |
| Other finance |
| Table 61 |
| H5.1 Whether applied for bank overdraft. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 62 |
| H5.2 Whether applied for commercial mortgage. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 63 |
| H5.3 Whether applied for credit cards. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 64 |
| H5.4 Whether applied for equity finance. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 65 |
| H5.5 Whether applied for factoring/invoice discounting. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 66 |
| H5.6 Whether applied for leasing/HP. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 67 |
| H5.7 Whether applied for loans. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |
| Table 68 |
| H5.8 Whether applied for mezzanine finance. |
| (Base: All that applied for finance in the last 12 months) |
| Unweighted Bases |
| Weighted Bases |
| Obtained |
| In progress (no decision as yet) |
| Unsuccessful |
| No - did not apply |
| Don't know/ Refused |