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Cross Cutting Research

This section contains report of surveys, research and analysis that cut across several enterprise policy issues.

Annual Small Business Surveys

The Annual Small Business Survey is a telephone survey of several thousand small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, carried out on an annual basis since 2003. The main purpose of the survey is to gauge the needs and concerns of small businesses and identify the barriers that prevent them from fulfilling their potential. The forerunner of the Annual Small Business Survey was the Small Business Service Omnibus survey that also sought the opinions of small businesses and only covered businesses in England. The Omnibus findings are also included on this page.

2006

• Annual survey of small businesses’ opinions 2006/07 (ASBS 2006/07)  (512KB)
• Annual small business survey 2006/07: annex  (11095KB)

2005

• Annual small business survey 2005: executive summary
• Annual survey of small businesses: UK 2005

• SBS annual survey questionnaire 2005

2004

• Annual small business survey 2004: executive summary
  
• Annual survey of small businesses: UK 2004/05
• SBS annual survey questionnaire 2004

2003

• Annual small business survey 2003: executive summary
  
• Annual survey of small businesses: UK 2003
  
• Small Business Service annual survey of small businesses: UK 2003. Additional analysis
• SBS annual survey questionnaire 2003

2001

• Regular survey of small business' opinions. First survey: final report

Household Survey of Entrepreneurship

The Enterprise Directorate Household Survey is a biennial telephone survey conducted amongst a general household population (adults aged 16-64) in England. The survey was carried out in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and in 2005 had a sample size of 15000. The survey helps government measure progress towards its targets on building a more enterprising culture and aims to determine the proportion of the population involved in entrepreneurial activity or considering it. It also provides data on attitudes, motivations and barriers to entrepreneurship.

2007

• BERR household survey of entrepreneurship 2007 (1867KB)

2005

• Household survey of entrepreneurship: executive summary. February 2005
• Household survey of entrepreneurship 2005

2003

• Building the capability for small business growth [evidence base section 4]  (340KB)
• Household survey of entrepreneurship: follow-up survey 2002  (664KB)
• Household survey of entrepreneurship 2001: research report  (685KB)

BERR Business Support Cross Product Monitoring Survey

This report series details the findings of various waves of the DTI (now BERR) Business Support Cross Product Monitoring Survey. The surveys evaluate various DTI (now BERR) Business Support Products over the last four years.

• DTI Business Support Cross Product Monitoring Survey  

Evidence Base

• A government action plan for small business: evidence base  (438KB)
• Developing better regulation and policy [evidence base section 8]  (275KB)
• Improving small businesses' experience of Government services [evidence base section 7]  (250KB)
• Improving access to finance for small businesses [evidence base section 5]  (290KB)
• Encouraging a more dynamic start-up market [evidence base section 3]  (240KB)
• Building the capability for small business growth [evidence base section 4]  (340KB)

SME Statistics

The BERR Enterprise Directorate Statistics Team provides performance information which enables the SBS to judge progress and manage resources. They produce statistics on the business population, business start-ups and closures and survival rates.