British Chambers of Commerce Trade Survey 2012

With a generally flat economy, the Government is looking to businesses to proactively seek out and develop growth opportunities within both domestic and international markets. It is therefore critical that we fully understand the considerations, opportunities and barriers that businesses have in extending their customer base. With this knowledge, collected through the BCC Trade Survey, we can then ensure that continuing pressure is placed on government to support businesses.

I would therefore be grateful if you would spare around 10 minutes completing this web survey.

John Longsworth, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce.

Business position and ambitions
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
           
The UK domestic market for my business' products/services is flat or in decline          
I have sufficient business at present          
Growth is a business priority          
I have ambitions to grow sales domestically in the next 12 months          
I have ambitions to grow market share domestically in the next 12 months          
Growth in sales and/or market share domestically in the next 12 months is critical to the survival of my company          
I have ambitions to grow sales internationally in the next 12 months          
Growth in sales internationally in the next 12 months is critical to the survival of my company          

Current approach to international markets
Q2. Which one of the following best describes your current business approach to exporting goods and/or services from the UK?
To your knowledge, do you currently supply any goods, products or services to those visiting the UK from overseas on a short term temporary basis (e.g. on a business trip, tourist, etc).
Which of the following apply to your business, if any? Please tick all that apply
Which one of the following best applies to your business, if any?
Do you have a formal written export strategy?
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   

Reasons for not exporting
What are your principal reasons for not having exported goods and/or services? (Please tick all that apply)

Factors that may influence exporting
How influential are the following factors in deciding if, when and where to export?
         
Size of overseas market for your products/services        
Extent of competition in overseas markets        
Production/sourcing capabilities to meet demand        
Cashflow and payment risk        
Know how /skills        
Financial resources and access to finance to expand        
Access to trade finance and credit insurance        
Availability of export information and support services        
Language barriers        
Cultural barriers        
Ease of finding customers, agents and/or distributors        
Other factors (please specify below)        
How likely would you be to start exporting if you were faced with the following...
Which one of the following would most likely encourage you to export again, if any?
Which one of the following would most likely encourage you to export for the first time, if any?

Export Barriers
To what extent are each of the following a barrier to your company exporting?
         
Quality of international transport connections (direct flights, etc)        
Cost of international transport connections        
Quality of your local transport connections        
Cost of your local transport connections        
Cost of shipping        
UK regulations        
Overseas regulations        
Managerial capacity / skills        
Access to labour with appropriate skills        
Production capacity constraints        

Exporting
Do you have a formal written export strategy?
Which of the following do you export?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
           
Many of my agents/distributors initially approached me for business          
I like to have formal contacts with agents/distributors          
I gain a significant proportion of my export business through referrals from my UK based customers          
If I receive enquiries from potential customers who do not speak English I tend not to deal with them          
I often get distracted from developing my export markets by the day-to-day management of the business          
Export customers have to take me as they find me          
And to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
           
I am not particularly fussy where my products and services are sold overseas          
I do not always fully appreciate how business is conducted in overseas countries prior to entering them          
Getting my export approach right is often trial and error          
I learn about export markets as I go along          
I generally don't choose my markets, they choose me          
I will always adapt my products and/or services to meet overseas market needs/requirements          

Export markets
To where do you currently export?
And which of these countries do you believe will provide your business with the greatest opportunities for growth in the next 12 months?

Export barriers
Which, if any, of the following barriers affect your ability to increase sales in the markets you currently export to?
             
             
BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China            
CIVET countries - Columbia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey            
EU Member countries            
EEA countries (non-EU members)            
Other countries in Europe (non-EEA/EU members)            
Other OECD member countries - Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, USA            
Countries in Africa            
Countries in Asia including the Middle East            
Countries in the Americas            
Countries in Oceania            
And which, if any, of the following barriers affect your decision on whether to enter a new market for the first time?
             
BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China            
CIVET countries - Columbia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey            
EU Member countries            
EEA countries (non-EU members)            
Other countries in Europe (non-EEA/EU members)            
Other OECD member countries - Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, USA            
Countries in Africa            
Countries in Asia including the Middle East            
Countries in the Americas            
Countries in Oceania            

Changes to export activity
How easy or difficult has it been to obtain trade finance and/or export credit insurance? Please use a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is extremely easy and 10 is extremely difficult.
How much emphasis would you put on exporting if you were faced with the following...
       
Deterioration in domestic sales revenue      
Deterioration in domestic cash flow      
Deterioration in domestic profit      
Deterioration in domestic market share      
Deterioration in overall domestic market conditions      
Given the depreciation of Sterling, have you reduced your pricing to become more competitive in some or all of your overseas markets?
Which one of the following would be most likely to increase your exports?    
To what extent have your export sales and profitability increased or decreased in the last 12 months?

Support services
Which of the following export support organisations have you used, if either?
To what extent are you satisfied or dissatisfied with UKTI on the following:
           
Speed of response          
Ease of accessing services          
Cost (if applicable)          
Appropriateness of support          
Communicating/advertising the support available          
To what extent are you satisfied or dissatisfied with UK Export Finance on the following:
           
Speed of response          
Ease of accessing services          
Cost (if applicable)          
Appropriateness of support          
Communicating/advertising the support available          
Why have you not used UKTI and UK Export Finance?

Trade relationship with Continental Europe

There are a number of different types of trade relationship the UK could adopt with Continental Europe.

Bi-lateral trade agreement:
(The UK leaving the European Union) - Agreement between the UK and one or more European nations or trading groups that gives each favoured trade status relating to certain goods and services. Examples include the UK’s current trade relationships with non-EU countries that are members of the World Trade Organisation.

Free-trade area:
Participation in an internal market, with regulation relating to goods and services but not social legislation. Commerce in goods and services is conducted across borders, without tariffs or hindrances; with a uniform tariff on trade with non-member countries; but (in contrast to a common market) capital and labour may not move freely. Examples include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Economic Area which includes Norway and Switzerland (but without the free movement of labour).

Economic union:
Where commerce in goods and services is conducted across borders, without tariffs or hindrances; with a uniform tariff on trade with non-member countries; capital and labour may move freely; and there is harmonisation of industry standards, regulatory policies and some social legislation, (examples include the EU).

Monetary union:
Where commerce in goods and services is conducted across borders, without tariffs or hindrances; with a uniform tariff on trade with non-member countries; capital and labour may move freely; there is harmonisation of some industry standards and regulatory policies; and (in contrast to an economic union) there is a shared currency, central bank and interest rate policy, (examples include the Eurozone).
Which of the trade relationships with Continental Europe do you believe would most benefit your business in the long term?
If you were to export in the future, which of the trade relationships with Continental Europe do you believe would most benefit your business in the long term?
And which of the trade relationships with Continental Europe do you believe would most benefit the UK in the long term?
And, if you were to export in the future, which of the trade relationships with Continental Europe do you believe would most benefit the UK in the long term?

About you and your business
Is English your native/mother tongue?
 
How well do you speak the following languages, if at all?
         
Chinese        
French        
German        
Italian        
Russian        
Spanish        
Other (please specify below)        
What is the longest period of time you have lived abroad during your adult life, if at all?
How important do you think it is to employ staff with foreign language skills in your UK base?
What level of influence, if any, do the following have on your likelihood to consider international markets or trade internationally?
         
Family ties/links overseas        
Foreign language skills        
International links between your local community and an overseas community        
Being part of an international business/group/chain        
Being part of an international supply chain        
Proximity to other exporters / importers        
Collaboration with overseas partners        
Previous work experience abroad        
Chance enquiry        
To what extent have your UK sales, profitability and market share increased or decreased in the last 12 months?

Business information
How many people are currently employed by your business in the UK (including full and part time staff)?
What is your company's principal business activity?
And is your business classified as a private, public or voluntary sector organisation?
What is your company's annual turnover?
%
Within which country or region is your business based?
Of which Chamber of Commerce is your business a member?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finally, would you be willing to be contacted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to provide more details (if required) and possibly be included in a case study?
(If you are happy to do this then some or all of your answers will be attributed to you and your organisation and passed to the BCC. However they will not be shared with any other third party.)

THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS SURVEY
 
This survey is set out over several pages, that can be accessed with the "Back" and "Next" buttons at the bottom of each page.
To send your responses back to us electronically, please press the "Submit" button on the last page. Thank you for taking part in this survey.