The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain

Are you interested in the performance of Britain’s population of small and medium-sized firms, and the experiences of business owners and managers? Would you like to find out more about a particular topic, examine regional differences, or track changes in business attitudes and performance over an extended period? The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain provides an authoritative and independent insight into these issues for the benefit of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.

Background

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. 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 edited by Dr Richard Blundel, and Emeritus Professor Colin Gray, working with writer Andrew McCann and other members of The Open University Business School’s enterprise team, including Dr Björn Claes and Dr Matthew Hinton. The survey is supported by Barclays Business, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), and the sponsors of special questions. The Quarterly Survey is editorially independent and any opinions expressed in its reports are not necessarily those of The Open University or of any sponsoring organisations.

Richard Blundel talked about the Quarterly Survey during an interview recorded during a virtual summit on the role of small business in the 'Big Society' (14-18 November 2011). Other speakers included: Dr Vince Cable MP, Nick Hurd MP, Professor Dame Carol Black, Andrew Cave of the Federation of Small Businesses, Carry Somers, founder of fairtrade company, Parachuti, entrepreneurial restaurateur Iqbal Wahhab, and Jim Dinnage, co-owner of Seacourt Ltd.