English Business Survey, 2011-2012: Secure Access

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The English Business Survey (EBS) is commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to provide a monthly assessment of business perceptions of current, past and expected economic and business conditions in each English region. A detailed understanding of businesses' perceptions and plans across England will inform the Government's economic growth and rebalancing agenda. The sample for the EBS is drawn from the Inter-departmental Business Register (IDBR). The primary objective is to achieve a sample that is as close as possible to being proportionate to the employment distribution within England. The EBS is conducted at the level of the workplace (i.e. individual sites within an enterprise, such as a factory, shop or office) rather than at the level of the business or enterprise. The sample is therefore selected at this level as well. The sample of workplaces is selected from across all industry sectors, including public sector and not-for-profit organisations. Further information on the EBS and monthly statistical releases derived from the survey can be found on the BIS English Business Survey website. Linking to other business studies These data contain IDBR reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. The majority of observations only contain IDBR plant identifiers (LUref). Therefore, it may not be possible to ascertain plants that belong to the same enterprise. Therefore, we recommend that users also apply for access to the Business Structure Database (SN 6697), which will allow users to link observations to their parent enterprises.Main Topics:The survey provides information on current business conditions compared with three months ago and expectations for three months ahead. The survey includes variables relating to:business characteristicsoutput, including domestic outputexportsstocksemployment and labour costscapitalinput and output pricescredit conditionsinvestment, including capital investmentbusiness performanceLocal Enterprise Partnerships (private sector only)