Survey BB-63 : The emphasis in the August survey is on Skills and Externally sourced Training.

Question Number	Question
Q1	Are sufficient numbers of young people attracted to your industry to ensure adequate availability of skilled labour in the future?
Q2	To what extent is your business constrained by shortages of Key Skills? (eg. Numeracy, Communication, basic IT skills etc.)
Q3	To what extent is your business constrained by shortages of Technical Skills?
Q4	To what extent do you consider that regular training is important to the success of your business?
Q5	To what extent do you feel informed about government support / initiatives for training?
Q6	Is the return on investment in externally sourced training sufficient to persuade you to provide it for your staff and yourself?
Q7	To what extent do you and / or your staff engage in externally provided training?
Q8	Which of the following areas of training would be most worthwhile for your business?
Q9	What are the main areas of concern which might prevent you from using external training? (TICK ALL THAT APPLY)
Q10	To what extent are you aware of web based training resources for either you or your staff?
Q11	To what extent do you engage in web based learning whilst at home?
Q12	To what extent would you welcome assistance from mature business people (e.g.The Mature Volunteer Force)?

(1) Are sufficient numbers of young people attracted to your industry to ensure adequate availability of skilled labour in the future?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. sufficient		20.6%
2.		12.4%
3.		16.5%
4. insufficient		38.8%
5. not applicable		11.8%

(2) To what extent is your business constrained by shortages of Key Skills? (eg. Numeracy, Communication, basic IT skills etc.)

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. highly		5.3%
2		15.3%
3		24.7%
4		26.5%
5. not at all		21.2%
6. not applicable		7.1%

(3) To what extent is your business constrained by shortages of Technical Skills?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. highly		9.4%
2		20%
3		24.7%
4		20%
5. not at all		18.8%
6. not applicable		7.1%

(4) To what extent do you consider that regular training is important to the success of your business?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. very important		48.2%
2.		30.6%
3.		14.1%
4.		5.9%
5. unimportant		1.2%

(5) To what extent do you feel informed about government support / initiatives for training?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. very well informed		2.9%
2.		15.3%
3.		20.6%
4.		41.8%
5. not at all informed		19.4%

(6) Is the return on investment in externally sourced training sufficient to persuade you to provide it for your staff and yourself?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. always		1.8%
2. mostly		22.9%
3. sometimes		35.9%
4. rarely		21.2%
5. not at all		8.8%
6. not applicable		9.4%

(7) To what extent do you and / or your staff engage in externally provided training?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. weekly		2.9%
2. monthly		13.5%
3. six monthly		28.8%
4. annually		24.7%
5. less than once per year		30%

(8) Which of the following areas of training would be most worthwhile for your business?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. management		16.5%
2. customer relations		12.9%
3. IT		17.1%
4. sales and marketing		30.6%
5. accounting and finance		7.1%
6. none		15.9%

(9) What are the main areas of concern which might prevent you from using external training? (TICK ALL THAT APPLY)

Response	Total answers: 355	%
1. quality		20%
2. convenience of location		17.5%
3. convenience of timetable		10.1%
4. lost working hours		21.1%
5. cost		31.3%

(10) To what extent are you aware of web based training resources for either you or your staff?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. highly		6.5%
2		21.2%
3		24.7%
4		22.9%
5. not at all		24.7%

(11) To what extent do you engage in web based learning whilst at home?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. weekly		5.3%
2. monthly		4.7%
3. six monthly		13.5%
4. annually		4.1%
5. less than once per year		72.4%

(12) To what extent would you welcome assistance from mature business people (e.g.The Mature Volunteer Force)?

Response	Total answers: 170	%
1. highly		14.7%
2		16.5%
3		28.8%
4		20%
5. not at all		20%