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Wednesday, November 20th, 2002
The October survey asked for views on oil prices, employee rights, management,
training both for those running their own businesses and for their staff,
government grants, 'road charging', crime and security, selling and buying
through the internet and the biggest source of time wastage. Results are
summarised here. For the latest results please visit results.
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About the respondents
186 respondents were drawn with the following population characteristics:
| Sector |
| Production & Manufacturing |
Distribution |
Services |
Total |
| 28.7% |
8.4% |
62.9% |
100.0% |
| Turnover (£) |
| < 1 M |
1M-3M |
>3M |
Total |
| 65.7% |
20.2% |
14.0% |
100.0% |
| Number of Full-time Employees |
| 1-10 |
11-20 |
21-50 |
51-100 |
100+ |
unknown |
Grand Total |
| 47.8% |
30.9% |
7.3% |
3.4% |
3.4% |
7.3% |
100.0% |
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Recent volatility in oil prices has given rise to commentary on the impact of
yet further large increases, dependent on the international situation. If faced
with a 50% rise, 25% of respondents' businesses would be highly affected, with
another 24% moderately highly affected. 19% of businesses would be moderately
affected.
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Changes in employment conditions for fixed term contract employees is not a
major issue for any of our respondents. 32% found the question was not
applicable and 43% did not believe that improvement for employees would affect
their recruitment expectation. Of the remainder, more felt they would be less
or much less likely to recruit (22%) than those who would be more or much more
likely to recruit (3%).
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A question on whether management can or cannot be taught brought a fairly
strong majority view - 51% believe it can be taught, another 16% believed this
very strongly. On the other hand, 5% strongly believed it cannot be taught and
13% agreed with them, but less strongly.
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Drawing the distinction between training for owner/entrepreneurs and their
staff, 53% found time and money highly, or moderately highly, well spent on
themselves, although the October Business Advisers Barometer survey showed that
only 4% of Advisers' clients learn and develop their business acumen through
training courses.
62% of respondents found training time and money to be highly, or moderately
highly, well spent on their staff. .
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The type of management training attracting most votes was direct management of
people (34%). Change management came second with 28%:
Few respondents have applied for government grants in the last 12 months.
Amongst those who have applied for grants, half have applied for more than one
grant:
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Looking at the possibility of the new road charging scheme being taken up in
other inner city areas, 61% of respondents would expect some effect on their
business, but only 10% to a high extent.
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Every entrepreneur is aware of operational tasks which are less productive. 36%
of our respondents feel that paperwork wastes most time, while 24% waste time
more on commuting than on the other tasks.
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Crime and security are highly significant or significant issues for 39% of
respondents but insignificant to 12%. There was a small increase in the level
of significance to businesses since we last asked this question, in May 2001.
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According to a recent external survey, 94% of businesses are predicting that
consumer demand for availability of goods through the Internet will increase.
The last two questions in the October survey were follow-ups to similar
questions in two previous UKBB surveys. Responses across the three surveys
suggest growing support for this in respect of both buying and selling products
or services.
Listed below are extracts from feedback received in Survey
BB53 October 2002.
Comments are listed under sector headings.
Views expressed are those of individual panellists and may not represent those
of the University.
Business Services
"Q7. To what extent have you applied for government grants in the last 12
months?"
There are virtually no grants in my area. I would apply for everything I could
would there be grants available.
Email - Email communication is fundamental to our business - so email is not a
waste of time. However spams are and this is a growing problem.
"Q9. What is your biggest time waster?"
Biggest time waster is junk mail and collecting payments.
EC/UK Government red tape slows Internet growth
My biggest time waster is the telephone, and the dramatic increase in companies
that telephone during the day wanting to sell me something or wanting to
conduct a survey. It has reached the point where I have unfortunately started
to get annoyed with the callers (although I know that they are only doing their
jobs) because they are just taking up unnecessary time and blocking the phone
lines. An email survey like this is far less intrusive and disruptive.
The biggest timewaster to my business is cold callers wanting to speak to the
Finance Director or Managing Director about saving costs on electricity by
changing supplier for example.
Retail
Crime is our biggest issue - on an average week we can expect to be the victim
of a crime twice - this is putting untold stress on staff, resources and we
face the threat of having insurance cover withdrawn or having to suffer
exceptional excesses for our claims. We pay extortionate rates for which we
receive no benefit at all (we do not even get the bins emptied!) - more
resources should be put into policing.
Production & Manufacturing
"Q8. London is set to introduce 'road charging' in an effort to relieve traffic
problems there, to what extent would 'road charging' in inner city areas affect
your business?"
As rail suppliers the effect could be positive.
I believe a reduction in traffic congestion in the inner city would improve
business and fully support the concept.
Other
Our business travel cannot be helped but it is getting more of a pain every
month/year and wastes a lot of our time and hence our money.
Construction
How much does the recent "de-stocking" by suppliers affect the overall
efficiency of your business?
Motor Trade
"Q8. London is set to introduce 'road charging' in an effort to relieve traffic
problems there, to what extent would 'road charging' in inner city areas affect
your business?"
Highly in a positive way, as we are Motorcycle dealers who should see an
increase in 2 wheel transport caused by the move away from chargeable modes
such as cars.
rick.eagles@nottingham.ac.uk
/ Tel: 0115 84 66860.
