Longitudinal Small Business Survey, 2015-2021

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS) is a large-scale telephone survey of small business owners and managers, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This survey is the latest in a series of annual and biennial Small Business Surveys (SBS) dating back to 2003. From 2015, the survey methodology changed to include a longitudinal tracking element. A large sample size was recruited in Year One (2015) to establish a panel of businesses to be re-surveyed in subsequent years. This will allow a detailed analysis of how combinations of factors affect business performance. The LSBS is intended to: Improve the understanding of what drives and constrains business performance and growth by addressing evidence gaps relating to the lags between many business activities and associated performance outcomes;Provide improved data on current business performance and the factors that affect this. The larger survey size will provide more reliable findings for key sub-groups of the business population and in relation to activities such as seeking finance which are only relevant to part of the sample. The data available covers all respondents over the course of the six years so far. The 2014 datasets, covering the businesses surveyed, businesses with no employees and SMEs with employees, are available via the UK Data Service and held under SN 7814. Further information and research reports are available on the GOV.UK Small Business Survey reports webpage. Controlled Access Version A Controlled Access version of the LSBS is available from the UK Data Archive, subject to stringent access conditions. Extra variables include postcode district, 2, 3 and 4 digit SIC codes and Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) reference numbers for linking to other business surveys. Small Business Survey data files for 2010 and 2012 containing 4 digit SIC codes and IDBR reference numbers are available under SN 6856. Users are strongly advised to check whether the safeguarded version is sufficient for their needs before considering an application for the Controlled Access version. For the seventh edition (December 2022), the data and documentation have been updated to include Year Seven, completed during 2021. Main Topics:The survey asked business managers and owners about a range of issues including (but not restricted to): Obstacles to business successBusiness performance and ambitionFinancial issues and the use of business supportRecruitment and training aspects