Somerset Chamber QES Q4 2018

Somerset Chamber of Commerce - Quarterly Economic Survey

Thank you for completing the Somerset Chamber QES. The Quarterly Economic Survey is the largest independent business survey in the UK and a significant economic indicator.

To take part in the survey, please fill in the form below and click submit. All data is treated as strictly confidential and will not be passed on to a third party.

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* 1. Name of organisation (optional)

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* 2. How many people does your business employ?
(Estimate if not known; sole trader = 1)

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* 3. What is your main business activity?

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* 4. UK and overseas markets
Excluding seasonal variations, over the past 3 months...

	Increased	Remained Constant	Decreased
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 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
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 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

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* 5. Labour Force

	Increased	Remained Constant	Decreased
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 next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to have...	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to have... Increased	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to have... Remained Constant	Over the next 3 months, do you expect your workforce to have... Decreased

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* 6. Recruitment

	Yes	No
Have you attempted to recruit staff over the last 3 months?	Have you attempted to recruit staff over the last 3 months? Yes	Have you attempted to recruit staff over the last 3 months? No

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* 7. If yes, were they for:

Part-time jobs

Full-time jobs

Temporary jobs

Permanent jobs

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* 8. Recruitment Difficulties

	Yes	No
Did you experience any difficulties finding suitable staff?	Did you experience any difficulties finding suitable staff? Yes	Did you experience any difficulties finding suitable staff? No

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* 9. If yes, for which of the following categories of employee?

Skilled manual/technical

Professional/managerial

Clerical

Semi/unskilled

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* 10. 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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* 11. 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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* 12. Capacity

	Full capacity	Below capacity
Are you currently operating at...	Are you currently operating at... Full capacity	Are you currently operating at... Below capacity

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* 13. Prices/Costs

	Increase	Remain the same	Decrease
Over the next 3 months, do you expect the prices of your goods/services to...	Over the next 3 months, do you expect the prices of your goods/services to... Increase	Over the next 3 months, do you expect the prices of your goods/services to... Remain the same	Over the next 3 months, do you expect the prices of your goods/services to... Decrease

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* 14. Is your business currently suffering from pressures to raise its prices from any of the following? (please tick all that apply)

Pay settlements

Raw material prices

Finance costs

Other overheads

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* 15. Please indicate which of these following factors are more of a concern to your business than 3 months ago (please tick all that apply)

Interest rates

Business rates

Exchange rates

Competition

Inflation

Taxation

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* 1. Name of organisation (optional)

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* 2. How many people does your business employ?(Estimate if not known; sole trader = 1)

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* 3. What is your main business activity?

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* 4. UK and overseas marketsExcluding seasonal variations, over the past 3 months...

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* 5. Labour Force

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* 6. Recruitment

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* 7. If yes, were they for:

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* 8. Recruitment Difficulties

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* 9. If yes, for which of the following categories of employee?

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* 10. Cash flow and Investment

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* 11. Business Confidence

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* 12. Capacity

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* 13. Prices/Costs

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* 14. Is your business currently suffering from pressures to raise its prices from any of the following? (please tick all that apply)

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* 15. Please indicate which of these following factors are more of a concern to your business than 3 months ago (please tick all that apply)

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* 16. FeedbackFeel free to include additional feedback (optional)

* 2. How many people does your business employ?
(Estimate if not known; sole trader = 1)

* 4. UK and overseas markets
Excluding seasonal variations, over the past 3 months...

* 16. Feedback

Feel free to include additional feedback (optional)