The Kreston Technology Survey 2012 Question Title * 1. In which part of the country are you primarily located London Thames Valley South East South South West Midlands East Anglia North West North East Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Question Title * 2. Is your company Pre-revenue Generating revenue of <£1 million Generating revenue of £1-5 million Generating revenue of £5-20 million Generating revenue of £20-100 million Generating revenue of >£100 million Question Title * 3. How many employees does the company have? 0 - 10 10 - 50 51 - 100 101 - 500 > 500 Question Title * 4. Which sector does your company predominantly operate in? Chemical processes Materials science Nanotechnology High value manufacturing Life Sciences Digital Media IT Web based applications Telecoms Space related industries Energy/Renewables Clean technology/environmental Professional services and consulting Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. When choosing a location for your business what, in order of importance, were the three most relevant factors? Please enter your selection of A to J in the boxes below:A. Proximity to research/academic institutionsB. Proximity to similar businessesC. Access to networks and professionals operating in your sectorD. Access to employees with experience in your fieldE. Access to fundersF. CommunicationsG. Availability to grant financeH. Home and familyI. Availability of Fast Speed BroadbandJ. Other - please specify Most important Second most important Third most important Question Title * 6. Please describe the ownership of your business Privately Owned UK Owned Subsidiary Foreign Owned Subsidiary Venture Capital Backed AIM Listed Fully Quoted Question Title * 7. Rank the following features of the recession in order of impact upon your business, where 1 is the most important and 5 the least 1 2 3 4 5 Lack of equity funding 1 2 3 4 5 Difficulty in generating revenue 1 2 3 4 5 Inability to get debt 1 2 3 4 5 Customers not paying/deferring payment 1 2 3 4 5 Difficulty in securing an exit route Question Title * 8. The Government continues to talk about the importance of technology and innovation to the future growth of the UK economy. Which of the following measures are you aware of? AWARE OF UNAWARE Establishment of Enterprise Zones Establishment of Enterprise Zones AWARE OF Establishment of Enterprise Zones UNAWARE Increase in income tax relief for investors under Enterprise Investment Scheme/SEED EIS Increase in income tax relief for investors under Enterprise Investment Scheme/SEED EIS AWARE OF Increase in income tax relief for investors under Enterprise Investment Scheme/SEED EIS UNAWARE Patent Box Patent Box AWARE OF Patent Box UNAWARE Increase in corporate tax relief under the R&D scheme Increase in corporate tax relief under the R&D scheme AWARE OF Increase in corporate tax relief under the R&D scheme UNAWARE Grant Income Grant Income AWARE OF Grant Income UNAWARE Question Title * 9. Of the measures in question 8 which do you believe will benefit your business? Please rank these in importance to you where 1 is the most important and 5 is the least: Establishment of Enterprise zones Increase in income tax relief for investors under Enterprise Investment Scheme/SEED EIS Patent Box Increase in corporate tax relief under the R&D Scheme Grant Income Question Title * 10. If you were able to ask the Government to do one thing to help your business what would it be? Question Title * 11. How has the recession changed the way in which you seek to retain/sustain staff? (please tick all that apply) Granting share options More flexible working arrangements Increased home-working More part-time work/job sharing Use of Interns Other (please specify) Question Title * 12. Do you have any plans to recruit in the next 12 months? Yes No Not in a position to know/commit Question Title * 13. If yes, how many? 1 - 5 6 - 20 21 - 50 50+ Question Title * 14. Would you consider employing people under the Government's apprentice scheme Yes No Question Title * 15. If no, why not? Question Title * 16. Has the creation of any of the following impacted upon your business Techcity Enterprise zones Catapult Centres Biomedical catalyst Launchpad Question Title * 17. If so, what? Question Title * 18. Do you believe that the education system in the UK is delivering suitably qualified under and post graduate students that meet and support the demands of our technology businesses? Yes No Question Title * 19. If no, what single measure could the government introduce that might address this problem? Question Title * 20. Where do you see the greatest strengths of the UK in the development and commercialisation of technology based IP? Please rank in order of importance, where 1 is the greatest strength: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Quality of the academic base Quality of the academic base 1 Quality of the academic base 2 Quality of the academic base 3 Quality of the academic base 4 Quality of the academic base 5 Quality of the academic base 6 Funding environment Funding environment 1 Funding environment 2 Funding environment 3 Funding environment 4 Funding environment 5 Funding environment 6 State aid State aid 1 State aid 2 State aid 3 State aid 4 State aid 5 State aid 6 Entrepreneurial environment Entrepreneurial environment 1 Entrepreneurial environment 2 Entrepreneurial environment 3 Entrepreneurial environment 4 Entrepreneurial environment 5 Entrepreneurial environment 6 Quality of employees Quality of employees 1 Quality of employees 2 Quality of employees 3 Quality of employees 4 Quality of employees 5 Quality of employees 6 Tax regime Tax regime 1 Tax regime 2 Tax regime 3 Tax regime 4 Tax regime 5 Tax regime 6 Question Title * 21. Which three regions do you see the most competition for your business coming from? State A - HA. Middle EastB. Far EastC. North AmericaD. South & Central AmericaE. AustralasiaF. EuropeG. IndiaH. Africa Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Question Title * 22. Where do you believe the UK's competitive technology strength lies? (please choose and rank 1, 2, 3 of your top three choices where 1 is the most competitive): Chemical processes Materials science Nanotechnology High value manufacturing Life Sciences Digital Media IT Web based applications Telecoms Space related industries Energy/Renewables Clean technology/environmental Professional services and consulting Question Title * 23. Has your company benefitted from the following? (tick all that apply) R&D Tax Credits EIS EMI Share Schemes UK Funded Grants European Funded Grants Enterprise Zone SEED EIS None of the above Question Title * 24. Has your business worked in partnership with individual academics/researchers or academic institutions? Yes No Question Title * 25. If yes, would you describe the experience as (tick 1) Extremely beneficial and adding real and valuable IP to our business An interesting exercise, but one that did not directly add any real value to our business Useful in putting us in touch with additional resource when needed Useful, but post-graduates needed much more hands-on support that we would have expected A complete waste of time, effort and money Other (please specify) Question Title * 26. Does your company use overseas resources to develop its technology? Yes No Question Title * 27. If yes, whereabouts? (tick all that apply) Middle East Far East North America South & Central America Australasia Europe India Africa Other (please specify) Question Title * 28. Why do you use overseas resources? (please tick all that applies) Technologically more skilled Cheaper Better state aid overseas than in the UK Employment legislation Other (please specify) Question Title * 29. What do you see as your probable exit from your company? (please tick 1) Trade sale Flotation MBO Succession by family Other (please specify) Question Title * 30. Has your business raised funds over the past 12 months? Yes No Question Title * 31. If yes, how was funding raised Bank Familiy and friends Venture capitalists VCT's Business Angels Other (please specify) Question Title * 32. How much was raised? £0-£100,000 £101,000 - £500,000 500,000 - £1,000,000 £1,000,000 plus Question Title * 33. Do you have plans in the next 12 months to seek funding? Yes No Question Title * 34. If yes, where will you seek to raise the funds? Bank Family and Friends Venture Capitalists VCT's Business Angels Grants Other (please specify) Question Title * 35. How much will you be seeking to raise? £0 - £100,000 £101,000 - £500,000 £500,000 - £1,000,000 £1,000,000 plus Question Title * 36. In your opinion, have investors changed the way they evaluate investment opportunities? Yes No Question Title * 37. If yes, what are they now looking for? Question Title * 38. Would you like to leave any other comments or suggestions? Question Title * 39. This year we would like to ask a small number of business owners a few supplementary questions. This should take no more than five minutes. If you are happy for one of our researchers to contact you please leave your name and telephone number below. Question Title * 40. Would you like to see your comments attributed? Yes No Question Title * 41. If yes, leave your name and company name below Done
