Page 18 - BOSS Today Issue 55

BOSS Today #55 SOS REPORT
BOSS SOS

REPORT

CONFIDENCE CONTINUED TO IMPROVE AS POSITIVE ORDER GROWTH RETURNED IN

Q4 2021 AND Q1 2022 – BUT COST CRISIS THREATENS FUTURE RECOVERY.

ew research from BOSS is now n The availability of bank lending
Navailable, which has been designed with facilities has also improved
input from BOSS members. The survey n However, the cost of bank lending
covered 36 questions over the period 16 facilities has increased
Mar – 7 Apr 2022. This measures the
current level of confidence in the office Supply chain stress remains
supplies industry, monitors and highlights significantly elevated
trends and changes in the industry, n Supply chain shortages for imported
business concerns, pay reviews, financing inputs and materials remains the
and credit conditions, Covid-19 recovery highest ranked operational challenge
and the war in Ukraine. as companies seek to continue their
58 member companies participated, recovery
representing 5,631 employees and £3 n Other cost pressures and a lack of
billion turnover. Survey respondents demand are also major concerns
comprised mostly dealers/resellers and n Supply shortages of domestic inputs
manufacturers. and materials also remains a major
challenge
Highlights from the survey include:
n Industry confidence improved in War in Ukraine
Q4 2021 and Q1 2022 Impact on business
n Most respondents remain confident n Two-thirds of businesses have
in the performance of their own conducted a risk assessment regarding
companies the impact of the war in Ukraine on
their business
Business concerns n 77% of companies reported that their
n Cost of freight remains the top business has been impacted
business concern n 20% expect the future impact to be
significant, 24% moderate, and
Financing and credit conditions 55% minor
n The level of bad debt has fallen slightly n 20% of companies reported that they
n Availability of credit lines with had already encountered more cyber
suppliers has improved threats since Russia invaded Ukraine.

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