How the ABI works

The information collected by the Annual Business Inquiry feeds into Government's employment estimates and is included in the National Accounts, which show how the economy is performing. The forms are sent to businesses in December/January. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) follows this up with reminder letters and telephone calls.

To request a duplicate form, please ring the name of the contact on the form or reminder letter.

What do you do with the data?
Individual data will be added to the other returns from your industry to create industry totals. Estimates for an industry are calculated within the computer system, based on returns received from businesses within that industry. The industry is defined using the Standard Industrial Classification 2003.

What type of businesses are selected by the inquiry?
The inquiry is sent out to a sample of all who are operating a business or organisation. These will include limited companies, public limited companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, charitable organisations, educational and religious establishments, government departments, local authorities, hospitals and nursing homes. These are just a few examples and are not intended as an exhaustive list.

As such, any business, organisation or establishment in operation during the required period might be selected by the inquiry and completion will be required.

How does the ONS limit the burden on business?
The ONS tries to ensure that the burden on businesses is kept to a minimum. The government recognises this and insists that all surveys be regularly reviewed to ensure that the data collected are relevant and that the views of the suppliers are respected. The ONS keeps the sample size as low as possible, consistent with obtaining results of the required accuracy for all the sub-groups of interest. Results are needed by industry, size group and locality as a basis for formulating policies for these groups. A random sample of businesses is chosen so that those selected are representative of others of similar size in the same industry. View the Compliance plan

This page last revised: Wednesday, 22 February 2006