SBF NATIONAL BUSINESS SURVEY 2015/2016

Transcription

1 SBF NATIONAL BUSINESS SURVEY 2015/2016 Company Name: This survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete SECTION 1 ECONOMY, BUSINESS GROWTH AND CHALLENGES UEN: 1. How confident is your company about Singapore s economic growth for 2016? (Pls circle only 1 option) Very Optimistic Optimistic 2. Is the current climate of the global economy having a positive or negative impact on your business? Positive Negative No Change Sure 3. Do you expect your business to be profitable in 2016? Yes, expected net profit margin of % No, expected net profit margin of % sure 4. Please rank the top 3 KEY business strategies for your company in (1 being the most important and 3 being least important) Brand Development Source for cheaper raw materials/final products Staff Retention/ Fill existing positions Offer new products/services Slowdown in overseas business activities Restructuring (M&A, JV etc) Overseas expansion Relocation of operations out of Singapore Increase cost efficiency/productivity Relook Business Model Others, pls specify 5. What challenges do you foresee your company facing in the next 6 12 months? Sales-related Issues (You may tick more than 1) Slow growth in sales Increase in competition Reduction in gross margin Exports are less competitive due to stronger SGD Delays in projects Delay in payments from customers No Issues Page 1 of 8 Lack of access to new business opportunities Others, pls specify: Cost-related Issues (You may tick more than 1) High labour costs High rental costs High material costs High oil prices High transport costs No issues Others, pls specify Financing Issues (You may tick more than 1) Tightening credit access to suppliers Bank loans are more expensive Unable to obtain new bank financing Unable to renew financing No Issues Need more collateral for same financing Others, pls specify General Issues (You may tick more than 1) Uncertain economic environment Erosion of competitiveness Lack of access to market information No issues Fluctuation in foreign currency exchange Foreign staff issues (e.g. levies, Dependency Ratio Ceiling, etc) Lack of capable manpower / skills to improve performance Others, pls specify 6. In 2016, does your company plan to increase investments for business expansion? Yes, and the investments will be in the following areas: (You may tick more than 1) Machinery & Equipment Property Intellectual Property (IP) Engaging business consultants IT Infrastructure (e.g. Computers, Servers, Software etc.) R&D Upgrading employees Subsidiary/ Associated/ Affiliated companies or Joint Ventures Others, pls specify: No, I do not plan to increase investments.

2 SECTION 2 BUSINESS COST 7. In 2015, what is the estimated percentage increase in the total operating expenditure per dollar of sales for your company? Up to 10% >10% - 30% >30% - 50% >50% Others, pls specify: 8. In table below, highlight the top 3 cost components, if increased, that will significantly affect your company s profitability (in terms of profit margin) for the next 1-2 years. Top 3 cost components, if increased, will have Cost Component the greatest impact on profitability [(Rank from 1 3), 1 being greatest impact] Labour cost: Wages Labour cost: Foreign Worker Levy Rental of premises Cost of utilities Advertising and marketing cost Transportation cost Government compliance cost (e.g. cost related to GST filing, complying with Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), etc) Currency fluctuation IT Related Others, pls specify: SECTION 3 ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING 9. How is your company affected by the economic restructuring? affected, pls state reason Affected, but not doing anything Affected and adopted or thinking of adopting at least 1 of the following measures (You may tick more than 1): urce/look for shared services s specify: f 10. In Budget 2015, the Government introduced various new initiatives and enhancements to current initiatives as indicated below to help companies cope with the economic restructuring. Which of the following are you aware, using or planning to use? New Initiatives or Enhancements SkillsFuture Aware Page 2 of 8 but Using as Helpful and Planning to Use Aware Find it Effective Have Used but Helpful Applicable SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme Enhanced subsidies for mid-career Singaporeans SkillsFuture Study Awards SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative SkillsFuture Mentors Encouraging Scale Enhance tax allowance for mergers & acquisitions Extension of Internationalisation Finance Scheme to cover M&A that will aid a company s overseas expansion. Helping Companies Internationalise Enhancement in support level for SMEs for IE Singapore s Grant Schemes Enhancement of Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation scheme to also include qualifying manpower expenses incurred for Singaporeans posted to new overseas entities.

3 New Initiatives or Enhancements Aware but Using as Helpful and Planning to Use Aware Find it Effective Have Used but Helpful Applicable New International Growth Scheme Strengthening Grant Support for Innovation Simplified application process & extension of enhanced funding support level for Capability Development Grant (CDG) Extension of Collaborative Industry Projects (CIP) to all sectors Enhancement of Partnership for Capability Transformation (PACT) Scheme Catalyse Enterprise Financing Increase in co-investment cap of SPRING Startup Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS) Top up & increase in co-investment cap of Business Angel Scheme (BAS) Extension of Angel Investors Tax Deduction (AITD) Scheme Venture Debt Risk-sharing Programme 11. Have the Budget 2015 measures been useful in helping your company to cope with the economic restructuring? Yes, and they have helped to improve my company s productivity, and/or help my company to innovate No, more assistance is needed to cope with restructuring and it should be given in the following areas (pls specify): sure how the measures have helped 12. What challenges do you face in applying for Budget 2015 assistance schemes? Stringent selection criteria Restrictive coverage of qualified activities Limited manpower and resources internally for the Most of the government schemes do not apply to my application process company/industry No Challenges Others, pls specify: 13. What do you think of the pace of economic restructuring? 14. What is your company s expectation on staff headcount in 2015 under the current situation where foreign manpower is being tightened? (Pls tick appropriate boxes) Staff Headcount Local Full-time Staff Local Part-time/ Contract Staff Page 3 of 8 Skilled Foreign Manpower Unskilled Foreign Manpower Likely to increase Likely to stay the same Likely to reduce SECTION 4 SINGAPORE BUDGET 2016 & ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING 15. What are your Suggestions/Wishlist for Budget 2016? Please be as specific and forthcoming as possible so that your feedback can be considered for Budget 2016 where appropriate. [*You may provide your inputs on additional piece of paper if there is insufficient space provided below] Greater incentives to help companies invest in R&D & innovation. Pls specify: Greater incentives to help companies in capability building. Pls specify: Investing in Training and Development for PMET employees. Pls specify: Incentivise companies to create better career opportunities for staff with polytechnic and ITE qualification. Pls specify: Local business expansion. Pls specify: Overseas business expansion. Pls specify: Financing. Pls specify: Reduce business cost. Pls specify:

4 More granular foreign worker policies to meet business / industry needs. Pls specify: Help companies attract economically inactive to re-join the workforce. Pls specify: Incentivise companies to provide portable Medical Benefits for Employees. Pls specify: Reduce legislative/compliance cost for companies. Pls specify: Others. Please specify: 16. Other than the above Budget 2016 Suggestions/Wishlist, what other assistance does your company require so that it can improve its productivity to better cope with the economic restructuring? (You may tick more than 1) Assistance on building a productivity culture in the organisation Training & skills development Consortium formation Outsourcing / Shared Services Business process innovation Product innovation Assistance in securing skilled manpower Others, pls specify: SECTION 5 OVERSEAS EXPANSION [Pls proceed to Section 6 if your company does not have or does not intend to have any overseas ventures/business activities] 17. In your last financial year, what percentage of your total sales / turnover was generated from outside of Singapore? Up to 30% > 30% to 50% > 50% to 70% > 70% None 18. Which one of the following country(ies) is your company currently engaged in and/or keen to venture into for overseas business activities? (You may tick more than 1) Country Currently engaged in business activities Keen to venture into for business activities Cambodia China India Indonesia Japan Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Vietnam Africa Pls specify: Pls specify: Americas Pls specify: Pls specify: Europe Pls specify: Pls specify: Middle East Pls specify: Pls specify: Oceania Pls specify: Pls specify: Others Pls specify: Pls specify: 19. What benefit(s) have your company gained from using Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)? (You may tick more than 1) Copyright & IP Finance / Banking IPR protection Investment opportunities Access to government tenders Ease of technology transfer Tariff savings Tax savings and open trade More business opportunities Others, pls specify: None. Pls state reason: 20. What are the top 3 obstacles faced by your company when promoting your products/ services overseas, or in your overseas business operation, even with our FTAs? (Pls rank your top 3 obstacles, with 1 being the most important and 3 being the least important) Rank: Compliance issues Credit standing Unclear rules & regulations Lack of protection of Intellectual Property Rights Bureaucracy Customs related issues Lack of logistics/infrastructural support Manpower issues Brand acceptance Competition from companies already established in the Funding Lack of business contact country Lack of overseas business knowledge & information Political instability Others, pls specify: Page 4 of 8

5 21. What business issues would you like SBF to help represent and/or advocate at the various regional/international fora (eg. ASEAN Business Advisory Council, APEC Business Advisory Council & East Asia Business Council)? (You may tick more than 1) Acceleration of the pace of trade and investment liberalisation (e.g. support the implementation of WTO s Trade Facilitation Agreement and the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership) Transparent, predictable and consistent investment policies Removal of barriers to foreign direct investments (FDI) and the creation of an environment conducive to public-private partnerships Transparent government procurement processes more non-tariff barriers Liberalisation of the services sector Regional financial system integration Improving the global trading system for the emerging digital economy Technology dissemination and innovation Others, pls specify: 22. Is your organisation aware of the plans to form an integrated ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that will be launched by end 2015? No Yes, heard about it but do not know the full details 23. If you are aware of AEC, do you think your company will benefit from the integration? ficant to my business opportunities to my business 24. What help do you need from SBF to take advantage of the AEC? SECTION 6 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) 25. What comes to mind when you hear the term corporate social responsibility (CSR)? (You may tick more than 1) Corporate philanthropy/donations Corporate volunteerism Environmental awareness programmes Anti-corruption policies Product stewardship Sustainable development Work-life balance Employee training Fair employment Stakeholder engagement Others, pls specify: 26. Does your company have a stated CSR or corporate sustainability policy? Yes, in the following way: (You may tick more than 1) Dedicated CSR-focused officer/csr department Management (e.g. C-suite/board member) is involved in shaping CSR agenda CSR/Sustainability performance are communicated/reported Recognises/Rewards employees who meet CSR performance measurements No, because: (You may tick more than 1) Lack of resources (e.g. financial, manpower, etc.) to implement CSR No management/employee support for CSR Insufficient evidence that CSR is financially worthwhile CSR is irrelevant to my business 27. If your company has not implemented CSR programmes but intends to do so in the next 12 months, what are the top 3 measures you would implement? (With 1 being most likely to implement and 3 being least likely to implement) Corporate philanthropy/donations Corporate volunteerism Others, pls specify: No firm plans yet Environmental awareness programme Fair employment No plans to implement CSR in the next 12 months Page 5 of 8

6 28. Which of the following three would help your company in its CSR implementation? (With 1 being most likely to implement and 3 being least likely to implement) Funding/Incentive schemes Mentorship scheme/executive training for senior management (e.g. C-suite) Online CSR information/resources (e.g. case studies, webinars) Others, pls specify: SECTION 7 SBF s Activities & Services Support from management 29. Has your company participated or made use of any SBF activities/services? Yes Other CSR-related training, seminars or networking sessions Assistance (e.g. plan, develop and implement a CSR strategy, or to audit performance) No. Pls state why: (Proceed to Q33) 30. How satisfied are you with our services/support? (Pls circle only 1 option) Highly Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Dissatisfactory Dissatisfactory Highly Dissatisfactory 31. If your answer to Q30 is 1, 2 or 3, please state reason(s) to help us improve: 32. To what extent do you feel that SBF is providing opportunities for networking and partnership with other member companies and the rest of the business community? (Pls circle only 1 option) Very Well Well Well at all 33. SBF aims to be a strong collective voice of the business community in Singapore. To what extent do you feel that SBF is representing your company s concerns? (Pls circle only 1 option) Highly Representative Representative Representative Representative Representative Does not represent at all 34. As the voice for businesses, SBF is committed to advocating key issues that impact the Singapore business community. Please tick the top 3 key business issues that you are most concerned with: Business Costs Financing Corporate Governance Innovation Manpower & Productivity CSR & Business Sustainability Internationalisation Regulation Others, pls specify: Fair & Competitive Business Environment Transparent & Predictable Regulations 35. Has your company participated in any of SBF s capability development programmes or training courses? Yes No. (Proceed to Q37) 36. To what extent do you feel that SBF is helping your company build its capabilities? (Pls circle only 1 option) Very Well Well at all Well 37. Has your company participated in any of SBF s programmes or activities that help your company to connect to overseas markets? Yes No. (Proceed to Q39) 38. To what extent do you feel that SBF is helping your company to expand its business overseas? (Pls circle only 1 option) Very Well Well Well at all Page 6 of 8

7 39. Which of the following current SBF activities, services and products do you find beneficial? ( You may tick more than 1) Advocacy & Voice Representation Internationalisation mmittee (SMEC) ing Business Delegations (e.g. NWC Guidelines, Foreign Workers Policy) concern (e.g. Taxes, Employment Act (Local & Foreign) etc) Capability Building Schemes on Internationalisation Others Seminars on Global and Economic Outlook SME Conferences and Seminars Training courses/programmes targeted at: C Level Higher Management Middle Management Training courses/programmes on: rkplace Safety/BizSafe/Risk Management Industry-specific topics 40. What other activities/services would you like SBF to organise/provide? Please specify: SECTION 8 COMPANY DETAILS 41. Which of the following best describes the current stage of development of your company? (Pls tick only 1) Start-up (first 3 years of operation) Decline Accelerating sales/turnover growth (>10% per annum) Moderate sales/turnover growth (up to 10% Mature, maintaining status quo, zero growth rate per annum) Questions 42 & 43 refer to the following financial year periods:- FY covering Financial Year ending between 1 Jan Dec 2014 (actual figure) FY covering Financial Year ending between 1 Jan Dec 2015 (estimated figure) 42. What is your company s annual sales/ turnover for 2014 and 2015? (Pls tick only 1) Turnover Up to S$1m > S$1m to S$5m > S$5m to S$10m > S$10m to S$20m > S$20m to $50m > S$50m to S$100m > S$100m FY2014 FY What is your company s net profit after tax for 2014 and 2015? (Pls tick only 1) Net Profit Losses S$0 to S$0.1m > S$0.1m to S$0.5m > S$0.5m to S$1m > S$1m to S$3m > S$3m to S$5m > S$5m FY2014 FY2015 Page 7 of 8

8 Main Business / Industry: (Pls tick only 1) Banking & Insurance Construction, Property & Real Estate Oil & Gas Manufacturing Services Education IT Logistics & Transportation Trading Others, pls specify: Company Category (Pls tick only 1): SME (Annual sales < S$100million or employment size <200) Employment Size (Pls state number): Large Company / Enterprise (Annual sales >S$100million or employment size >200) 44. Would you like to receive a complimentary report of the survey findings? Name of Person who completed the survey: Designation: Tel: If your CEO/MD/GM would like to receive a copy of the complimentary report, kindly provide his/her name and Name of CEO/MD/GM: Further to your survey response, are you agreeable to SBF contacting you to provide you with relevant services? --- End of Survey. Thank you for your participation. --- Page 8 of 8