BRES Adjusted 2009 Estimates Released

On 18 June 2013, the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) dataset was updated with 2009 estimates adjusted to remove the discontinuity between 2011 BRES and earlier years. These estimates replaced the 2009 unadjusted estimates previously available in the dataset.

This follows the adjustment made to 2010 BRES results on 14 December 2012, and means that the estimates from 2009 to 2011 in the main BRES dataset are all on a consistent basis.

The discontinuity is a result of changes to the way directors of limited companies are classified and treated within the BRES results. Details of the impact of the discontinuity can be found in the BRES quality and methods section of the National Statistics website.

The 2008 BRES estimates cannot be adjusted because of the way the results were produced, which was by applying BRES methodology to data from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).

Therefore, two datasets will be made available going forward:

1. The first, titled business register and employment survey, will contain comparable BRES estimates from 2009 onwards.  [link to data]
2. The second, titled business register and employment survey - 2010 consistent with earlier years, will contain BRES data from 2008 to 2010 on an unadjusted basis. This dataset can be used for comparing 2009/2010 BRES with 2008 BRES.  [link to data]

Accessing BRES Data on Nomis

To access the BRES datasets on Nomis you must first obtain a Chancellor of the Exchequer's Notice from ONS.

To apply you must have registered for a Nomis account (free). If you have your own account, you can check whether you already have permission from the BRES access option in the my account section of the site.

Apply for a New Chancellor's Notice

The cost for a new Notice is £60 + vat.

Applications are processed by the BRES team at ONS who you should contact with any queries about the process: tel: 01633 456903 or email: annual.employment.figures@ons.gov.uk