Business Data for Research 2021 – Northern Ireland

Business Data for Research (BDR) 2021 is a de-identified linked dataset that contains information on businesses in Northern Ireland, such as employees, turnover, employment costs, working patterns, and sales and exports. It covers the period 2014 to 2021. 

The BDR has the potential to offer insights on a range of themes such as European Union exit analysis, the impact of Covid-19 on the Northern Ireland economy, and Northern Ireland international trade, productivity, and exports. It can also enable research to provide an evidence base for key government policies, such as Department for the Economy’s objectives around good jobs, regional balance, productivity, and sustainability.

The data is being made available by Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)’s Economic and Labour Market Statistics branch. It was developed in collaboration with ADR Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy.

Component datasets and linkage

Business Data for Research 2021 is comprised of survey data from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) and the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (including Northern Ireland Economic Trade Statistics (NIETS), formerly Broad Economy and Export Statistics). The BRES gathers information annually about businesses across Northern Ireland, including employee jobs (by gender, industry, and geography), working patterns, and business legal statuses. The NIABI collects both financial and employment information from businesses, including turnover, employment costs, sales and export statistics, and purchase value of goods, materials, and services.

Timeframe 2014-2021
Update Frequency Annual
Population Businesses in Northern Ireland
Coverage Northern Ireland
Size (Based on number of rows in database) Business Register and Employment Survey: 288,249. Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry / Northern Ireland Economic Trade Statistics: 50,916
Business Data for Research 2021 – Northern Ireland

   

Examples of research questions

Research questions include:

  • What are the drivers of productivity in Northern Ireland?
  • What impact does trade have on economic growth in Northern Ireland?
  • What impact does technology have on economic growth in Northern Ireland?
  • How does trade compare across Northern Ireland?
  • What is the extent of subsidies paid to businesses in Northern Ireland and what impact do they have?

This list is illustrative only and intended to demonstrate the research potential of the dataset. For research priorities, see the NISRA webpage (section 2.2).

Core documentation

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User guide

Guidance for researchers can be found on the NISRA website.  

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Data dictionary

A metadata and data dictionary can be found on the NISRA website.

Other supporting resources

Resource

Description 

Data Explained: Spatial and sectoral analysis of NI trade from 2014 to 2020 

This project forms part of the beta testing of Business Data for Research 2021. The project was an exploratory study of the useability of the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry and Northern Ireland Economic Trade Statistics datasets.

Data Explained: Productivity differences within Northern Ireland

This focuses on how Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry can contribute to our understanding of the Northern Ireland productivity problem.

Data Explained: The impact of technologies on the productivity and people of Northern Ireland 

This explores the effects of technology investment on Northern Ireland’s economy.

Data Explained: Exporting, importing and Northern Ireland firm performance and strategies: Which pathway to internationalisation?

This explores the relationships, at firm-level, between firms’ engagement in markets external to Northern Ireland and their performance in entering and exiting markets.

Data Explained: Characteristics of trading firms in Northern Ireland

This project seeks to estimate the impact of exports on the Northern Ireland economy and to investigate the difference between exporting and non-exporting firms in Northern Ireland.

Accessing the data

1. Apply to become an accredited researcher under the Digital Economy Act 2017

2. Apply to access Business for Data Research

3. Access the data securely via the NISRA Secure Environment or the ONS Secure Research Service

  • NISRA Secure Environment in Colby House – complete a RSU Secure Environment Researcher Booking Request Form and submit it to rsu@nisra.gov.uk.
  • Safe Rooms – based in the ONS offices in Titchfield and Newport, open Monday-Friday, 9.00-16.00 
  • SafePod Network – a small, self-contained secure room with a single workstation
  • Assured Organisational Connectivity – the ability to access the ONS Secure Research Service from your office. Check what arrangements your institution already has or can put in place.

Further information on how to apply for approval is available on the NISRA Research Support Unit page or by contacting rsu@nisra.gov.uk.

"Access to the Business Data for Research dataset enables researchers to take a deep dive into the trading activities of businesses in Northern Ireland for the first time. Combining financial and trade data, it provides a rich resource to help us better understand the type of firms that export, their underlying performance and characteristics, and their geographical spread of sales. The longitudinal element enables an understanding of trends in both exporting and importing which has become increasingly important in light of Covid-19 disruption to supply chains and new trading arrangements after the EU exit."

Dr Karen Bonner, Principal Economist, Ulster University