The IDBR Inter-Departmental Business Register; a key survey source

The Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) is the comprehensive list of UK businesses that is used by government for statistical purposes. It provides a sampling frame for surveys of businesses carried out by the ONS (Office for National Statistics) and by other government departments. It is also a key data source for analyses of business activity.

It is based on inputs from three administrative sources: traders registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) purposes with HM Customs and Excise; employers operating a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme, registered with the Inland Revenue; and incorporated businesses registered at Companies House. The ONS Annual Register Inquiry and other surveys supplement these administrative sources, identifying and maintaining the business structures necessary to produce detailed industry and small area statistics.

The IDBR covers businesses in all parts of the economy, other than some very small businesses (self-employed and those without employees and low turnover) and some non-profit making organisations. With 2.1 million businesses listed it provides more than 99% coverage of UK economic activity.

It holds a wide range of information on business units including:

-Name
-Address
-Standard industrial classification
-Employment and employees
-Turnover
-Legal status (company, sole proprietor, partnership, public corporation/nationalised body, local authority or non-profit body)
-Country of ownership
-Company number
-Intrastat data on the value of goods and services that are traded (imports & exports) between the EU member states and the UK.

The industrial classifications or descriptions of business activity on the IDBR are determined from responses to surveys, or from administrative data held in VAT and PAYE systems. The IDBR has facilities to provide statistical samples at enterprise and at local unit level. The enterprise address is generally the head office. The local units or sites, for example a retail outlet or factory, are where the enterprise operates.

The IDBR complies fully with the European Union Regulation on Harmonisation of Business Registers for Statistical Purposes.

The confidentiality of all the data held on the IDBR is protected by the ONS code of practice and by specific legislation. The main users of the IDBR are government departments and local authorities that are permitted to receive information for planning their surveys, for pre-defined statistical analyses and for legally permitted specific administrative purposes.

An annual publication providing a size analysis of UK businesses is available free on the NS website for years from 1995 to 2003. Other analyses of IDBR data are available on the Neighbourhood Statistics and Department of Trade & Industry websites. The IDBR Analysis Section provides a bespoke analysis service tailored to users needs, for both confidential and public release data.