Analysis of BIS Data: Business Support Barrier Identification Report

This report presents an analysis of data from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), focusing on identifying barriers that prevent individuals and businesses from utilizing available business support resources. The analysis compares data from the South East and North West regions of the UK, utilizing Microsoft Excel for data organization and analysis. The study employs filtration, data transformation, and reduction techniques, including the use of pivot tables, to identify patterns and trends. The report examines variables such as urban/rural location and the type of business to understand the characteristics of businesses in each region. Key findings include differences in the utilization of public sector support between the regions, with urban areas in the South East receiving more support than those in the North West. The analysis also explores the types of support services used by businesses, such as Business Link and UK Trade & Investment, and the concerns businesses have regarding external advice. The report concludes by highlighting barriers related to low-skill levels and differences in support preferences, offering recommendations for improving business support accessibility and effectiveness.

BIS Data analysis

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Analysis of BIS data for identifying particular pattern of barriers that prohibited people to use
business support...........................................................................................................................1
Highlights of some interesting findings.....................................................................................13
Recommendations as per highlighted areas that require more support.....................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Data analysis in business refers to most important internal function of an organisation,
which is mainly performed to record, analyse and interpret information to make better decisions.
Through this process, a firm can take decisions as per consumer trends, behaviour predictions
and demand of innovation in business, to increase profitability. Along with this, it provides
opportunity to firms, for better targeting, check the product performance, match them with
customer preferences and more. A report is prepared by exploring the BIS data from business
innovation department, which is a ministerial authority and mainly work for promoting the trade
and business expansion, via providing a number of solutions to small firms. In this sense, data
after procurement from this division will properly analysed in order to identify barrier patterns,
that restrict individuals for usage of business report. For this purpose, whole process is made on a
particular region i.e. South East by comparing it with South west. After analysing, it will
communicate with Chief Research Analyst and provide some suggestions to them for being used
the data in further study. The data has been analysed by gaining an understanding regarding the
patterns of barriers which restricts people from using business support.
MAIN BODY
Analysis of BIS data for identifying particular pattern of barriers that prohibited people to use
business support
The data which is collected by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
has been collected by using primary sources, where number of questions have been asked to
various small organisations, for understanding the barriers that restrict them for further
innovation or expansion. To arrange and properly store the data, Microsoft Excel software has
been used as specific business intelligence tool. But as this data is collected on a large basis from
numerous employers of small company, therefore, it will create difficulties to analyse whole
information at same time. Therefore, some specific variables or questions have been taken to
identify the barriers behind not getting proper business support, with primary aim to compare
data of two main regions, that are South East and North West. A number of steps have been used
for analysing complete process as given below –
1

Filtration: It is first step which is mainly used for pre-processing of data analysis. For this
purpose, FILTER command of Excel, is used to collect desired data of both regions that lie from
3 to 6. After filtration of big data which is given in spreadsheet of “Q4 to 6” is then copied and
pasted into new spreadsheet for further analysis purposes.
Data transformation and reduction: It is another main step where for transforming data
which is collected by filtration process, Pivot table is utilised. This would help in selecting only
those variables which enables analyst to interpret specific information only.
Variables: The variables which are chosen from Variable and Value spreadsheets of big
data for determining the barriers include URBANRURAL_2 and REGION. Undertaking this
data, pivot table helps in representing the information in graphical form appropriately.
Thus, applying all above steps, help in gathering specific information and present them
statistically, in following way –
South East North West
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180 166
121
56
28
Urban Rural
2

Statistical Table of Region variable –
Region Data
Sum 1560
Count 371
Mean 4.21
Median 3.0
Mode 3.0
Standard Error 0.08
Maximum 6.0
Minimum 3.0
Range 3.0
Sample Variance 2.2
Standard Deviation 1.48
Kurtosis -1.8
Skewness 0.4
Statistical Table of Region variable –
Region Data
Sum 455
Count 371
Mean 1.2
Median 1.0
Mode 1.0
Standard Error 0.02
Maximum 2.0
Minimum 1.0
Range 1.0
Sample Variance 0.18
Standard Deviation 0.42
Kurtosis -0.3
3

Skewness 1.3
Thus, after applying the statistical methods like mean, median, mode and other central
tendencies on chosen data, it has been identified that South East relatively has more smaller
organisations as compared to region of North West. So, this factor illustrates the high economic
value of South East. Although, North West area has higher organisations in urban areas than
rural ones, where on contrast, it has been found that South East region, employers are mainly
deal in rural type of businesses. Therefore, it has been interpreted that both regions have
possessed small organisations in different-different areas, so, there might some reasons present
that create barriers in front of them for further expansion at large level. Therefore, to analyse
such factors and identify particular pattern of barriers, it is essential to determine which business
data have already been used by firms of both regions. This would help in evaluating barriers that
causes limitations in expansion or trading at another level. From big data which is collected from
primary sources, Q1-1a is chosen which is “Would you classify your organisation as one mainly
seeking to make a profit; as a charity or voluntary sector organisation; or as a government
financed body (either by central or local government)?”. After asking this question, to
employers of both regions that are South East and North West, result has been arranged in
following way –
Regions South East North West Total
Urban 166 121 287
Commercial business who seek to profit
mainly 166 121 287
Rural 56 28 84
Commercial business who seek to profit
mainly 56 28 84
Total 222 149 371
4

1 2
166
56
121
28
South East North West
Urban Rural
Through this statistical information, it has been evaluated that organisations of both
regions that are South East and Noth West are mainly seek to gain high profitability. Therefore,
at this point, it is difficult to make comparison of both regions, but has been analysed that urban
areas of these regions are more concerned than rural areas, to acquire profit for further growth.
Now, in order to gather more information for further comparison, another question is asked
to them – “Q3.5. And now can I ask since your business was established/ during the last three
years, has your business used assistance or support from public sector organisations to provide
you with information about the day to day running of your business?”. So, taking this question
information about whether organisations of South East and North West has gained any support of
public sector firms can be analysed. This would also help in analysing how much public
authorities give support to private sectors in expansion of their business, so that better steps can
be taken for the same. In this regard, following information has been gathered from big data
given in excel sheet –
Regions
South East
Regions
North West
Regions Total
Urban 166 121 287
High Support 28 19 47
No support 138 102 240
Rural 56 28 84
High Support 16 4 20
No Support 40 24 64
Total 222 149 371
5

Urban
High Support
No support
Rural
High Support
No Support
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
North West Regions South East Regions
Thus, it has evaluated from the above graph, where a general question has been asked to
private organisations of urban and rural sectors of both regions (North East and South West)
about any support of public authorities, it has been analysed that maximum of them do not get
the same. In this sense, it has been further evaluated that urban regions of South East region as
compared with North West, receive higher support from organisations of public sectors. But
firms operate in rural areas of both regions relatively not get much support from public firms.
Therefore, on this basis of assumption, it has been identified that having low skilled and less
abilities to contribute their role in developing economy, public organisations of these regions
ignore to support them in resolving business issues and for further growth. This has highlighted
one of the major barrier faced by rural sector firms. In this regard, after gathering entire
information about South East and North West regions, to analyse what type of support or specific
services, required by organisations from public sector, another questions have been asked, as
given in the excel sheet from as –
Q3.6 A. What kind of organisations have you used? : Business Link website
Q3.6 B. What kind of organisations have you used?: Business Link (telephone, face to face,
workshop/ seminar)
Q3.6. What kind of organisations have you used?: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
After asking these questions from smaller organisations of both regions, their responsse
are collected and represented in following way –
6

Statistical Analysis of Region variable –
Region Data
Sum 675
Count 371
Mean 1.82
Median 2.0
Mode 2.0
Standard Error 0.02
Maximum 2.0
Minimum 1.0
Range 1.0
Sample Variance 0.15
Standard Deviation 0.4
Kurtosis 0.8
Skewness -1.6
7

8

Graphical representation of above data –
South East Region
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Urban Area
Don't know
Other public sector sources of advice or support
Trading Standards
Chamber of Commerce
SSC
Manufacturing Advisory Service
DEFRA
Environment Agency
DCI
Job Centre
Department of Health
Citizen’s Advice
Trading standards
ACAS
Border Agency
HMRC
Government organisations /websites
Train to Gain provider
Local Authority
University, FE college or other public sector training provider
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
Business Link (telephone, face to face, workshop/ seminar)
Business Link website
Urban
9

Rural
Don't know
Other public sector sources of advice or support
Trading Standards
Chamber of Commerce
SSC
Manufacturing Advisory Service
DEFRA
Environment Agency
DCI
Job Centre
Department of Health
Citizen’s Advice
Trading standards
ACAS
Border Agency
HMRC
Government organisations /websites
Train to Gain provider
Local Authority
University, FE college or other public sector training provider
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)
Business Link (telephone, face to face, workshop/ seminar)
Business Link website
Rural
From these statistical information analysis, it has been analysed that mostly private sector
organisations of South West regions use business link services, which are being provided from
public authorities who work mostly to provide support for resolving their solutions, like BIS. On
contrast, smaller employers of North West region mostly not prefer to get same service (business
link websites), for enhancing their business operations at large level. So, this point indicates
differences of seeking support of organisations of both regions in terms of services, seeking from
public sectors. Thus, it has been identified that differences in preferences of support is another
main barrier after low-skill, that arise difficulties for individuals in their business expansion.
Now, for further analysis and better discussion, more questions have been asked, which are
shortlisted from big data as given below –
10

Q4.4. Thinking about the issues that have been a concern to your business since established/ in
the last three years, do you now think that your business could have significantly benefitted from
external information or advice on any of these matters?
Q6.5. Is more than 50 per cent of the business owned by women?
Hereby, first question from above two, has been asked for analysing if employers of North
West and South East regions have been ever concerned to get external support for achievement
of business objectives. Through analysing their responses, it can be evaluated that is it create
limitations for them in organisation growth, or restrict them to get support of public
organisations. In this sense, for analysing responses of employers of both regions, following
statistical methods have been used –
Region
South
East
Region
North
West
Region Total
Agree 29 15 44
Disagree 92 68 160
No idea 8 6 14
N/A 2 2
Total 131 89 220
Agree
Disagree
No idea
N/A
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
29
92
8
2
15
68
6
North West Region South East Region
11

It has been interpreted from the above statistical analysis that seen that from only less
proportion i.e. 29 out of 131 of South East busineses believe that it would beneficial to take
external support for running firm successfully. Similarly, only few respondents of North West
regions are agreed on the same statement. This would indicate that not getting proper
information about benefits of public organisations’ support could be the major barrier in front of
small firms of both regions. Similarly, from Question 6 (5), about position of women in such
firms whose innovative skills and thinking beyond others, if they hold more than 50 percent
positions of workplace, then this would aid firms in making innovation in business, following
information has been summarised to identify particular pattern –
Regions
South
East
Region
North
West
Region Total
Urban 166 121 287
Surely 36 26 62
Certainly not 125 89 214
Not sure 5 6 11
Rural 56 28 84
Surely 14 9 23
Certainly not 41 19 60
Not sure 1 1
Total 222 149 371
South East Region North West Region
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Urban Surely Certainly not Not sure
Rural Surely Certainly not Not sure
12

Statistical Analysis of Region variable –
Region Data
Sum 669
Count 371
Mean 1.8
Median 2.0
Mode 2.0
Standard Error 0.02
Maximum 3.0
Minimum 1.0
Range 2.0
Sample Variance 0.2
Standard Deviation 0.5
Kurtosis 0.3
Skewness -0.6
Thus, from complete analysis it has been analysed that most the firms have have
neglected to have equal position of women. However, South East region has higher number of
organisations who have given employment to women, as compared to North West region. So, it
has reflected as most of the organisations of South East, belong to urban areas therefore, women-
owned or having specific positions of them at workplace is higher in this region. So, it indicates
another main barrier in front of firms of both regions, for further growth and expansion.
Highlights of some interesting findings
Through analysing the BIS data, instead of specific organisations, two regions can easily
be compared with each other, which is not be possible for conducting own primary survey. Some
aspects that have analysed from above findings, are highlighted as below –
 Two regions can be differentiated on the basis of specific preferences that their
organisations possess for further expansion and growth of business. However, a number
of similarities can also be identified in terms of external support and way to think for
13

getting same. In present case, barrier that might have faced by organisations of South
East and North West are believe of public organisation that firms of rural area are less-
skilled then urban one. Therefore, it creates barriers in front of smaller firms of both
regions that belong to rural area, in getting support of public authorities, for resolving
their business issues.
 Difference which has identified in a particular pattern of barrier is number of
organisations that operate in urban areas. South East relatively as higher urban companies
than North West, so they use more support of public organisations like business link
websites.
 In addition to this, due to less urban companies, organisations of North East areas have
less women-owned business or less female employers that limit the opportunities for
them to gain high growth.
Recommendations as per highlighted areas that require more support
Through analysing and summarising entire information of South East region by comparing
with North West area, some recommendations are given for reducing identified barriers –
 The BIS department of innovation and skills, needs to give support to female employers
for launching and running their business successfully. Along with this, implement some
interventions also that raise position of women in other organisations too. This will
reduce limitations that rural areas mainly face, in achievement of corporate objectives.
 It is further recommended to BIS that more support needs to provide to rural businesses,
for resolving their business issues. This would help them in making innovations and
development of business, to run successfully.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from all above report data analysis is one of the important function of
a company, that helps in identifying barriers in achievement of their business objectives.
Through summarising the BIS data by choosing specific regions (South East and North West), it
has been analysed that identifying similarities and differences in preferences, urban and rural
proportion, women-owned firms, barriers can be removed from smaller firms to achieve their
business objectives.
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