Black Country Chamber Quarterly Economic Survey Q1 2021

The Black Country Chamber's Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) offers an up to date snapshot of the performance of the Black Country business community. The feedback gained through the survey is used both on a local and national level to influence and shape policy and strategies to better support and represent the regions business needs.

This survey should only take a few minutes to complete, information provided is submitted to the British Chambers of Commerce. Chamber Members may have completed this survey with their account managers. For more information visit our website here.

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* Name of Organisation (optional):

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* Including yourself, how many people do you employ in the Black Country?

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* What is your main business activity?

Production of raw materials (e.g. agriculture, fishing, mining, utilities)

Manufacture of electronic or IT goods

Manufacture of other goods

Construction

Transport and distribution

Retailing/wholesaling

Tourism/Hotels/catering

Professional services (e.g. finance accounting, legal, surveying, IT support, consultancy, recruitment)

Marketing/media (e.g. marketing, PR, market research, advertising, media)

Consumer services (e.g. cleaning, decorating, plumbing, repairs, private leisure/education/health)

Public or voluntary sector services

Other services

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* Excluding seasonal variations, over the past 3 months....

	Increased	Remained Constant	Decreased	N/A
UK sales/custom/bookings have...	UK sales/custom/bookings have... Increased	UK sales/custom/bookings have... Remained Constant	UK sales/custom/bookings have... Decreased	UK sales/custom/bookings have... N/A
UK orders/advance custom/bookings have...	UK orders/advance custom/bookings have... Increased	UK orders/advance custom/bookings have... Remained Constant	UK orders/advance custom/bookings have... Decreased	UK orders/advance custom/bookings have... N/A
Overseas sales/custom/bookings have...	Overseas sales/custom/bookings have... Increased	Overseas sales/custom/bookings have... Remained Constant	Overseas sales/custom/bookings have... Decreased	Overseas sales/custom/bookings have... N/A
Overseas orders/advance custom/bookings have	Overseas orders/advance custom/bookings have Increased	Overseas orders/advance custom/bookings have Remained Constant	Overseas orders/advance custom/bookings have Decreased	Overseas orders/advance custom/bookings have N/A

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* Your workforce...

	Increased	Remained Constant	Decreased	N/A
Over the past 3 months, has your workforce...	Over the past 3 months, has your workforce... Increased	Over the past 3 months, has your workforce... Remained Constant	Over the past 3 months, has your workforce... Decreased	Over the past 3 months, has your workforce... N/A
Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to...	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to... Increased	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to... Remained Constant	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to... Decreased	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to... N/A

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* Have you tried to recruit staff over the past 3 months?

Yes

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* If yes, were they for:

Part-time Jobs

Full-time Jobs

Temporary Jobs

Permanent Jobs

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* Did you experience any difficulties finding suitable staff?

Yes

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* If yes, for which of the following categories of employee:

Skilled / Technical

Professional and Managerial

Clerical

Semi / Unskilled

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* Cash flow and Investment

	Increased	Remained Constant	Decreased
Over the past 3 months, cash flow has...	Over the past 3 months, cash flow has... Increased	Over the past 3 months, cash flow has... Remained Constant	Over the past 3 months, cash flow has... Decreased
Over the past 3 months, investment plans for plant/machinery/equipment have...	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for plant/machinery/equipment have... Increased	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for plant/machinery/equipment have... Remained Constant	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for plant/machinery/equipment have... Decreased
Over the past 3 months, investment plans for training have...	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for training have... Increased	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for training have... Remained Constant	Over the past 3 months, investment plans for training have... Decreased

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* Business Confidence

	Improve	Remain the Same	Worsen
Over the next 12 months, do you believe turnover will...	Over the next 12 months, do you believe turnover will... Improve	Over the next 12 months, do you believe turnover will... Remain the Same	Over the next 12 months, do you believe turnover will... Worsen
Over the next 12 months, do you believe profitability will...	Over the next 12 months, do you believe profitability will... Improve	Over the next 12 months, do you believe profitability will... Remain the Same	Over the next 12 months, do you believe profitability will... Worsen

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* Are you currently operating at:

Full Capacity

Below Capacity

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* Over the next 3 months do you expect your prices to:

Increase

Remain Constant

Decrease

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* Is your business suffering pressures to raise prices from any of the following:

Pay Settlements

Raw Material Prices

Finance Costs

Other Overheads

N/A

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* Which of the following factors are more of a concern to your business than 3 months ago?

Interest Rates

Exchange Rates

Business Rates

Inflation

Competition

Taxation

N/A