When Covid-19 first hit, SWA conducted our first “Scottish Wholesale Market Survey” in April. We subsequently followed this up in June to establish member business confidence.

We are now conducting our third Market Survey to ascertain how the easing of lockdown restrictions are helping your businesses, the concerns you have for the future and the ongoing support you require of SWA in continuing to fight for your sustainability and survival.

As with all our other survey data, it is amalgamated with industry figures and will directly feed into our ongoing discussions with:
  • Scottish Government's Chief Economist
  • Scottish Government Ministers & their officials
  • Scottish Parliament Committees and opposition MSP
  • The Scottish Government’s 'Hospitality & Tourism Recovery Taskforce'
  • UK Government Ministers, their officials and opposition MPs
Our fundamental focus has been on securing Scottish Government financial assistance for our members.  So, it’s critical that we have a good up to date understanding of the impacts Covid-19 is having, and will continue to have, on members' businesses and what is needed to transition out of ‘lockdown’.


The information shared will be treated with the utmost confidence by SWA and will NOT be shared in named format with any other member, 3rd party or even Scottish Government unless we specifically ask your permission.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey - we appreciate you are extremely busy but this will help us to help you.
Business Confidence

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* 1. Company Name:

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* 2. What were your average weekly total sales in Scotland (£)

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* 3. Since the reopening of hospitality (15th July) by what % of your business has it grown, if any, compared to...

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* 4. What Scottish redundancies, if any, has/will your business make?

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* 5. What are your main concerns for the ongoing future of your business?

  Of Most Concern Concerned Of Least Concern
Trading at near current sales levels
Recouping customer debt incurred during lock-down
Servicing our own debt incurred since April (incl. supplier dues, rent, rates, taxes etc)
More regional lock-downs
More national lock-downs
Ending of furlough
Ending of the "Eat out to Help out" scheme
Stock ‘date’ issues
Stock supply/availability issues from suppliers
Removal of trade credit insurance
Lack of future Government support
Lack of borrowing facilities for wholesalers
Cost of borrowing (incl. UK Govt loans)
BREXIT uncertainty/ impacts
Minimum wage rate increases

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* 6. From Q5 above, what are your TWO most important concerns for your business right now?

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* 7. How confident are you of your business survival to the end of the year? 
[Assuming no changes are made to the Government information & support that you’re already aware of]

0 % Confidence Level 100
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.
Business Support

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* 8. What are your main asks of UK and Scottish Governments, and that will provide the most benefit, in continuing to help support your business?

  Very Important Important Least Important
Extension of Business Rates Relief to include Wholesale
Ongoing access to Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CIBLS)
Ongoing access to Business Bounceback Loans (BBL)
Extension of the Job Retention Scheme (JRS)
Replacement of JRS with similar scheme that secures jobs but subsidises wages
Extension of VAT deferral
Access to Grants to support ongoing costs in dealing with Covid (ie PPE, Tech. to Pivot)
Local Council Grants Extended to Wholesalers
Introduction of Adaptation Grants to Help Business Invest for The Future (ie. in People; Training; Sustainability; Tech; Infrastructure; Fleet etc)
Extension or Re-Introduction (at later date) of "Eat Out to Help Out" Scheme

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* 9. Have you spoken to or sought help, or support, from any of the following agencies and how would you rate their service? 

  Help Received (ie advice received; did they understand or have knowledge of your business/sector) Support Received (ie. financial or receiving of the outcome you desired)
Local Authority
Scottish Enterprise
Highlands & Islands Enterprise
South of Scotland Enterprise
Local Chamber of Commerce
Developing The Young Workforce (DYW)
Skills Development Scotland
Other Trade Association
Other Business Organisation

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* 10. What further financial, or other assistance, would you want SWA to campaign for from the Scottish Government?
(Please give detail: ie recovery of ‘wasted’ stock, duty deferral, abolish apprenticeship levy etc.)

BREXIT
With the end of the transition period in sight and the possibility of No Deal Brexit looming again, SWA want to know your views on the business impact of Brexit.

SWA sit within the Scottish Government's 'Brexit Resilience Group' industry round table so we are able to feed in our sector insight and your thoughts. While we are also working with FWD to engage at UK Government level, to support our members in their preparedness for Brexit.

To help guide our thinking on what help you require from SWA, and from the UK and Scottish Governments and their agencies, please provide answers to the following questions...

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* 11. Do you directly import or export products to/from the EU (excluding N.I.) (Directly can include using a 3rd party agency on your behalf but should not include where you buy such goods through a "buying group").

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* 12. Do you directly import, or export, over £250k of goods to, or from, the EU (excl N.I.) per year?

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* 13. Do you directly import or export products to/from Northern Ireland? (Directly can include using a 3rd party agency on your behalf but should not include where you buy such goods through a "buying group")

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* 14. What value of goods do you directly import or export to/from Northern Ireland per year?  (Approximate/average figures will suffice)

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* 15. Do you anticipate Brexit having much impact on your business?

No Impact % Confidence Level of Brexit Impact Severe Impact
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 16. In more detail, what specific impacts do you think Brexit will have on your business? (Please consider your geography/location within potential impacts)

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* 17. What information and/or support do you think you'll require in preparing for Brexit?

SWA: Here To Support

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* 18. SWA have never been as close to our members as we have been during the Covid-19 pandemic. We remain committed to providing the best possible service to our members.

We are here for you, please let us know below if there is anything else that we can do to assist and support you, and your employees, now or in the future...

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