GovWire

The survey was conducted over 22 waves amongst SMEs and sole-traders operating in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.

To ensure a wide-ranging sample, with data weighted to that profile, quotas were set for:

• business size
• broad sector
• region

Support for employees, businesses and the UK economy

UK businesses

At the start of the survey period, between 27 March and 1 April:

• 63% agreed that the government was putting the right measures in place to protect UK businesses from the impact of coronavirus at the time of the first survey (27 March to 1 April).
• 14% disagreed
• the rest were neutral or said they did not know.

By the end of the survey period, between 21 to 27 August:

• 53% agreed that the Government was putting the right measures in place by the end of the survey period
• 22% disagreed

UK economy

At the start of the survey period in March:

• 62% agreed that the government was putting the right measures in place to support the UK economy from the impact of coronavirus, with
• 12% disagreeing and the rest neutral or saying they did not know.

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 53% agreed
• 21% disagreed

Employees

At the start of the survey period in March:

• 60% thought that the government was doing well in supporting employees whose jobs are at risk during the coronavirus outbreak
• 21% thought they were doing badly
• the rest were neutral or said they did not know

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 47% thought the Government was doing well
• 34% thought the Government was doing badly

Small businesses

At the start of the survey period in March:

• 54% thought that the government was doing well in supporting small businesses during the coronavirus outbreak
• 26% thought they were doing badly
• the rest were neutral or said they did not know

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 44% thought the Government was doing well
• 38% thought they were doing badly

Support for their business

At the start of the survey period in March:

• 43% thought that the Government was doing well in supporting their own business during the Coronavirus outbreak
• 35% thought that they were doing badly
• the rest were neutral or said they did not know

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 44% thought the Government was doing well
• 30% thought they were doing badly

Well informed about government support?

Limiting the risk

At the start of the survey period in March:

• 80% agreed that they knew what they needed to do to limit the risk of themselves and their employees contracting coronavirus
• 6% disagreed and the rest were neutral or said they did not know.

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 78% agreed they knew what to do at the end of the survey period
• 7% disagreed

Government sources of advice

Between 27 April to 1 May:

• 79% said GOV.UK was their main source of advice to find out how to get their business operating fully again within the social distancing restrictions.
• 37% sought advice from HMRC
• 27% from an online search
• 26% from local authorities
• 23% said their main source of advice was the daily government press conference

Government support packages

At the start of the survey period:

• 60% agreed that they felt well informed about the government support packages available to their business.
• 15% disagreed
• the rest were neutral or said they did not know

At the end of the survey period in August:

• 64% agreed that they were well informed
• 15% disagreed

Financial support

• 65% agreed (March)
  

  View the original news story