New ONS Survey Reveals How Kent’s Single-Site Businesses Fared Over Past Year

Business owners across Kent now have access to fresh data showing how single-site companies in their area have navigated the past year’s economic challenges. The Office for National Statistics has released its latest six-monthly subnational results from the Business Insights and Conditions Survey, covering the period from March 2025 to March 2026.

The new release focuses specifically on businesses operating from just one location – meaning the data can be more confidently linked to specific areas like Kent, rather than being diluted by multi-site operations spread across different regions.

What the Numbers Tell Us

This latest survey combines data from 25 separate waves of research, numbered 130 to 154, creating a more strong picture than individual monthly snapshots. The ONS draws its sample from about 39,000 businesses across the UK for each wave, though officials stress these are experimental indicators rather than definitive economic measures.

The survey has evolved considerably since its launch during the pandemic in March 2020, when it was originally called the “Business Impact of Coronavirus Survey.” Today’s version tracks much broader economic pressures – from inflation and energy costs to labour shortages and supply chain disruption.

Single-site businesses are above all important for understanding local economic health. Unlike large corporations with operations scattered across multiple regions, these firms’ responses can be directly tied to specific places like Kent’s towns and districts.

How Local Leaders Use This Data

Kent County Council, Medway Council, and the county’s district councils can draw on these indicators to shape their economic development strategies and target business support programmes where they’re needed most. Local business organisations, including the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, often use this data to understand patterns in turnover changes, recruitment difficulties, and cost pressures among their members.

But there’s an important caveat. The ONS classifies this survey as “official statistics in development” and warns users to treat local estimates with caution, especially where sample sizes are smaller.

The Bigger Picture

The March 2025 to March 2026 period covered by this data captures a time when UK inflation was continuing to ease from its 2022-2023 peaks, though many sectors still faced tight labour market conditions and ongoing adjustments to post-Brexit trading arrangements.

For their part, the survey runs fortnightly, with results typically published twice a month for national figures. These subnational breakdowns come out every six months, aggregating multiple waves to improve reliability at the local level.

Key Takeaways

• ONS has released experimental data tracking single-site businesses from March 2025 to March 2026
• The survey covers around 39,000 UK businesses per wave, providing indicators for local areas including Kent
• Data helps local councils and business groups understand trading conditions, costs, and workforce pressures

What This Means for Kent Residents

Kent business owners can use these indicators to benchmark their own performance against local and national averages, helping them understand whether challenges they’re facing are widespread or specific to their sector. Local entrepreneurs and those considering starting a business can gain insights into which areas or industries might be under particular strain or showing resilience. For residents more broadly, this data helps inform local authority decisions about where to direct economic support and business development resources, potentially affecting job creation and economic growth in their communities.