UK Business Barometer

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The December UK Business Adviser Barometer survey questionnaire received 136 responses. The Survey sought views on union recognition, changes in interest rates, the recent Inner City 100 Awards, client's websites and the Rugby World Cup.

The first three questions were all related to issues about trades unions and the small firm. Respondents who believe that employees in small firms have poorer terms and conditions than those in large firms were very much in the majority at 74%.

The TUC are pressing for union recognition to be required in firms with less than 22 employees. A large majority of responding Business Advisers, 93%, believe that owners of small businesses would resist such a measure. Respondents to the parallel UK Business Barometer were slightly less emphatic, but the majority who would resist the measure was still 64%.

57% of Advisers feel that small firm employees are able to obtain appropriate recompense without a trade union, while 62% of respondents to the UKBB gave the same reply.

Following the huge public reaction to the recent Rugby World Cup win, the question was posed of whether this has a practical effect on business productivity. 37% of respondents think it does, while 29% say 'No'. 34% don't know.

Very few advisors are of the opinion that business owner managers change behaviour in response to interest rate changes. However 42% think that there is a marginal response and a further 36% believe that they are responsive only to long term movements. 19% think it makes no difference.

None of our respondents believe that growth in turnover is always a satisfactory measure of success, although 10% think it is in most cases. 18% believe that turnover growth can never be seen as a measure of success.

21% of responding Advisers have 75% of clients who own websites, while 32% of respondents have between 50% and 75% of clients with websites.

Trends Questions

The average number of clients seeking business advice increased slightly in the fourth quarter of the year compared with the September quarter.

There was a small decrease in the number wanting to start a business compared to September. This contrasted with the trend in December 2002 on September 2002, when there was an increase.

Ability to gain access to finance scored slightly lower in December compared to September, and is again level with the average June 2003 score.

Average Skill shortages appear to have increased in the December quarter, after adjusting for 'don't know' responses.

The average rating on likelihood of ceasing trading eased back this quarter, as more Advisers thought that a higher proportion of clients would be likely to cease trading over the next year.

Feedback into the December 2003 Survey BAB-16

Views expressed are those of individual panellists and may not represent those of the IBA or the University of Nottingham.

Just an add-on to the sporting success question; I think that this has a greater impact when local teams do well, as it creates a positive attitude generally and raises the profile of the town / city nationally. I haven't seen any research, but it would be interesting to look at business / social benefits as a result of football league success for short periods. Notts Forest, Derby County, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers spring to mind. Also FA Cup success, Tranmere and Wrexham and lower league giantkillers.

Bureaucracy is increasing in many ways from employment legislation to Data Protection Registration to CPD checks - which all seem to contradict each other in some aspects.