Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The Small Business Survey (SBS) is a large scale telephone survey commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) as a follow up to the Annual Survey of Small Businesses 2007/8. The main aims of the first SBS survey in 2010 were to:monitor key enterprise indicators (e.g. employment, turnover, finance, business growth) and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys. In particular the survey measures characteristics of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) such as the proportions which are women and minority-ethnic led, and the proportions applying for and obtaining external finance gauge SME intentions, needs, concerns and the obstacles to fulfilling their potentialprovide evidence for possible Government interventions to assist SMEscreate a database which can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, or sub-groups within itThe main aims of the next survey in 2012 were to:monitor key enterprise indicators and how these have changed in comparison to previous surveys, the 2010 SBS in particularcreate a database that can be used for follow-up studies among the general SME population, and sub-groups within it.From 2015, the survey methodology has changed to include a longitudinal tracking element. The Longitudinal Small Business Survey: Secure Access is available under SN 8261. Linking to other business studies These data contain Inter-Departmental Business Register reference numbers. These are anonymous but unique reference numbers assigned to business organisations. Their inclusion allows researchers to combine different business survey sources together. Researchers may consider applying for other business data to assist their research. The second edition (August 2014) includes data from 2012.
Main Topics:
The Small Business Survey covers the following main topics:the characteristics of SMEs such as their type (size, sector, legal status, etc)the characteristics of their owners and leadersrecent turnover and employment growthcapabilities in terms of their ability to innovate, export, train staff, etc.experience of accessing financeuse of business supportintentions to grow turnover and employmentthe needs and concerns, and the obstacles that prevent SMEs fulfilling their potential
One-stage stratified or systematic random sample
Telephone interview
