The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain

Do you have a personal or professional interest in how Britain’s many small business owners are managing in today’s challenging environment? Would you like to learn more about a particular issue affecting small firms today, examine regional differences, or track business attitudes and performance over an extended period? The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain provides insights into these and many other important questions affecting policy-makers and practitioners.

The Quarterly Survey has been monitoring small business attitudes and performance since 1984 when it was created by Graham Bannock, research director of the pioneering Bolton Report on small firms. Survey findings have been used by government departments, major business corporations and academic researchers. They are also reported at a European level as part of the UEAPME's EU Craft and SME Barometer. Each quarterly report represents the views and experiences of more than 900 owners and managers of small firms. The data is gathered from a national structured sample conducted by telephone, and through a parallel online survey to reflect the complexity and richness of business life in Britain today.

The Quarterly Survey report is prepared by The Open University Business School’s enterprise research team. It is edited by Dr Richard Blundel, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Development and Emeritus Professor Colin Gray. The Open University Business School acknowledges the generous financial and organisational support provided by Barclays Business and by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), plus the additional funding supplied by the sponsors of special questions. However, it is important to note that any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the sponsors or The Open University.

Dr Richard Blundel discusses recent findings from the Quarterly Survey of Small Business and related research projects in an interview recorded as part of virtual summit on the role of small businesses in the 'Big Society' (14-18 November 2011). Other speakers included: Dr Vince Cable MP, Nick Hurd MP, Professor Dame Carol Black, Andrew Cave, Head of External Affairs, UK for the Federation of Small Businesses, Carry Somers, founder of the fairtrade company, Parachuti, the restauranteur Iqbal Wahhab, and Jim Dinnage, co-owner of Seacourt Ltd, a family owned printing business.

Summary pages for the last two years’ surveys can be found below. You can also obtain free downloads of previous surveys, including an archive that dates back to 1990.

Recent surveys

2011

• Q1 Information and computing technologies 
• Q2 Capital allowances
• Q3 Focus, employment,‘greening’ business
• Q4 Post recessionary trends

2010

• Q1 Equipment and recovery 
• Q2 ICT, internet, advertising 
• Q3 Recession strategies
• Q4 Environmental sustainability

2009

• Q1 Effect of downturn 
• Q2 Motivation, growth targets 
• Q3 Business advice and information
• Q4 Sources of advice

2008

• Q1 Government regulations and paperwork 
• Q2 Economic uncertainties, capacity and income 
• Q3 Ownership, retirement and succession
• Q4 Business finance

2007

• Q1 Business advice and information
• Q2 ICT and the Internet
• Q3 Business finance
• Q4 'Credit crunch' and outlook

2006

• Q1 Exports 
• Q2 Motivation, target, innovation, enterpreneurship 
• Q3 Organisations and suppliers (Internet and imports) 
• Q4 Training, education and skills 

2005

• Q1 Growth and motivation 
• Q2 Business ownership
• Q3 ICT and the Internet 
• Q4 Government regulations and paperwork 

2004

• Q1 Motivation, objective, target, innovation 
• Q2 Business education and training 
• Q3 Government regulations and paperwork 
• Q4 Local community and social respopnsibility 

2003

• Q1 Minimum wage and cost pressures 
• Q2 Government regulations and paperwork 
• Q3 Business finance
• Q4 ICT and the Internet

2002

• Q1 Sources of business information 
• Q2 Business networks and supply chains 
• Q3 Ownership and intentions
• Q4 Pensions and stock market slide

2001

• Q1 Employee turnover and retirement 
• Q2 Exports and the Euro 
• Q3 IT and the Internet 
• Q4 Business climate

2000

• Q1 Changes 
• Q2 Slow payment
• Q3 Government regulations and paperwork 
• Q4 Skills shortages and training 

1999

• No 1 IT, communications and year 2000 
• No 2 Business finance 
• No 3 Government regulations and paperwork 
• No 4 Motivations, objectives and targets 

1998

• No 1 VAT compliance costs 
• No 2 Low turnover, advertising and promotion 
• No 3 Lack of skills, training and the  'new deal' 
• No 4 The euro 

1997

• No 1 Employment change, hours worked, satisfaction 
• No 2 Incomes and prices 
• No 3 Minimum wage
• No 4 Slow payment

1996

• No 1 Compliance costs
• No 2 IT - communications and computers 
• No 3 Business support organisations 
• No 4 Motivations, objectives and targets 

1995

• No 1 Capacity utilisation 
• No 2 Succession and ownership 
• No 3 Staff recruitment 
• No 4 Employee turnover and training 

1994

• No 1 The single market 
• No 2 Pensions 
• No 3 The past ten years 
• No 4 Minimum wage 

1993

• No 1 Business premises and the UBR 
• No 2 Rented business premises 
• No 3 Delayed payments 
• No 4 External sources of information 

1992

• No 1 Co-operatives 
• No 2 Exports 
• No 3 Quality standards (BS 5750) 
• No 4 Impact of the recession on incomes and prices 

1991

• No 1 Training and Enterprise Councils 
• No 2 Use of computers 
• No 3 Business growth objectives, gender of owner 
• No 4 Sources of small business finance 

1990

• No 1 European Community Special Directorate DG23 
• No 2 Motivation and objectives 
• No 3 School leaver training 
• No 4 School leaver training problems