Business Data for Research 2022 is now available within ADR Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), as part of ADR Northern Ireland, is now receiving applications from accredited researchers to use the Business Data for Research (BDR) 2022 dataset for research in the public interest.

Business Data for Research is a de-identified, record-level linked dataset which comprises survey data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), and the Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry (NIABI) (including Northern Ireland Economic Trade Statistics (NIETS)) for the period 2014 to 2022.

This latest update includes the newly added ASHE 2014–2022 data, as well as enhanced detail on exports by country of destination within the NIETS. These component datasets are linkable via an anonymised unique business reference number at Reporting Unit level – the main business site or headquarters of a business. Researchers can link data longitudinally (where data is available) and across each of the datasets. Researchers can also link ASHE data longitudinally at an individual employee level using an anonymised unique person number. The datasets cannot be linked to other data sources.

Areas of research interest

Business Data for Research has been developed to support research across a range of themes. It provides an evidence base for policy development, decision making, and the monitoring of public policy in Northern Ireland.

• The impact of Covid-19 on the Northern Ireland economy (see modelled results for Q2 2020);
• Northern Ireland International Trade in Services (see Northern Ireland International Trade in Services - New Perspectives (November 2018);
• Northern Ireland exports (see ESRI: Export Participation and Performance of Firms on the Island of Ireland (September 2018))
• Providing an evidence base for the NI Department for the Economy (DfE) economic vision.

How to access the data

Access to the Business Data for Research dataset is limited to researchers and research teams with accredited researcher status under the Digital Economy Act 2017. Access is subject to approval by each of the data providers and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel (RAP).

In the first instance, researchers should contact the NISRA Research Support Unit (RSU) via rsu@nisra.gov.uk to discuss their research proposal and provide an abstract. The RSU, in consultation with the data providers, will assess the feasibility of the proposed project prior to a full application to RAP.

The full application requires researchers to outline the main aims and objectives of the project, the methodological approach, details of the data and cohort required, and any planned public engagement activities. Ethical approval will also be required, either through the research team’s university ethics committee or via the National Statistician’s Ethics Advisory Committee.

Further information on how to apply for approval is available on the NISRA website.

The dataset may be accessed within the RSU Secure Research Environment or via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Secure Research Service (SRS), subject to data owner and RAP approval.

For further information about the dataset, visit the BDR section of the NISRA website.

Information session

The NISRA Research Support Unit will host an online information session for researchers and other interested parties who wish to learn more about the BDR 2022 dataset. The event will take place on Thursday 4 December 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 am.

The session will include a presentation outlining key features of the dataset, followed by a Q&A with members of the BDR project team.

To register your interest, please contact RSU (rsu@nisra.gov.uk) on or before Monday 1 December 2025. Joining information will be provided to registered attendees in advance of the event.