ACS National Minimum Wage Survey 2012 100% of survey complete. The information collected in this survey will be used to inform ACS' recommendation on the 2013 minimum wage rate. The Low Pay Commission has been asked by the Government to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations for the minimum wage rate in 2013. If you have any questions about the survey or need support completing it please contact Edward Woodall, Public Affairs Exectuvie, on 01252 533014. Question Title 1. How many stores do you have? Question Title 2. How many staff do you employ? Question Title 3. In your businesses what is the typical hourly rate for staff aged 21 or over, not on probation or in a supervisory role (£)? Question Title 4. Do you pay staff either of the following rates in your business? (Please tick) Yes No Development Rate (£4.98 for 18 to 20 year olds) Development Rate (£4.98 for 18 to 20 year olds) Yes Development Rate (£4.98 for 18 to 20 year olds) No 16-17 rate (£3.68 for 16 to 17 years) 16-17 rate (£3.68 for 16 to 17 years) Yes 16-17 rate (£3.68 for 16 to 17 years) No Question Title 5. Do you employ apprentices and if so what do you pay them(£)? Question Title 6. If you have laid off staff in the past 12 months was this due to: Employment Costs Recession Other Other (please specify) Question Title 7. Have increases in employment costs led to any of the following, please answer yes or no for each: Yes No a reduction in the hours you employ staff for? a reduction in the hours you employ staff for? Yes a reduction in the hours you employ staff for? No an increase in the hours you have had to work? an increase in the hours you have had to work? Yes an increase in the hours you have had to work? No impacted on your business expansion or investment plans? impacted on your business expansion or investment plans? Yes impacted on your business expansion or investment plans? No made your business less competitive? made your business less competitive? Yes made your business less competitive? No affected pay structures within your business? affected pay structures within your business? Yes affected pay structures within your business? No Question Title 8. Under the Government’s Pension Reforms how many of your staff will qualify for automatic enrolment? (For staff to qualify for automatic pension enrolment they must meet the following criteria: be at least 22 years old, have not yet reached State Pension age; and earn more than the minimum earnings threshold.) Question Title 9. Please rate the following statements: Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 Strongly Agree NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 Agree NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 Neutral NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 Disagree NMW rate should be frozen for 2013 Strongly disagree A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning Strongly Agree A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning Agree A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning Neutral A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning Disagree A review of NMW every two years would be beneficial to my financial planning Strongly disagree Question Title 10. When do you calculate your wage Bill for the financial year ahead? Question Title 11. In the absence of National Minimum Wage what would influence your decision to increase staff wages? Yes No RPI RPI Yes RPI No CPI CPI Yes CPI No Business Sales Business Sales Yes Business Sales No Business Profitability Business Profitability Yes Business Profitability No National Average Earnings National Average Earnings Yes National Average Earnings No Question Title 12. Are consumers spending less? How is this affecting your business? Question Title 13. What actions are you taking in your business to cope with changing consumer spending habits? Question Title 14. What is the best action that the Government could take to benefit your business? Question Title 15. Please tick yes or no for the following statements: Yes No Has your access to credit (through loans or overdrafts) been restricted over the last year? Has your access to credit (through loans or overdrafts) been restricted over the last year? Yes Has your access to credit (through loans or overdrafts) been restricted over the last year? No Have you had issues with accessing credit from suppliers? Have you had issues with accessing credit from suppliers? Yes Have you had issues with accessing credit from suppliers? No Has the recession impacted on your banking costs? Has the recession impacted on your banking costs? Yes Has the recession impacted on your banking costs? No Question Title 16. Any other comments or issues you want to raise? Done