The Utility Regulator has commissioned Perceptive Insight, an independent research company, to carry out a new study exploring how small businesses are coping with the impact of rising energy costs.
This important research aims to give a voice to small business consumers across Northern Ireland who are feeling the strain of increasing bills and market uncertainty — and to inform how the Utility Regulator can better support them through its Business Protection Programme.
What’s the Study About?
The study seeks to understand the real-world experiences of small businesses navigating today’s challenging energy landscape — from dealing with suppliers and managing volatile costs, to making difficult operational and financial decisions.
Specifically, the research will explore:
- Experiences with the energy market, including price rises, supplier relationships, and contract changes
- How businesses are coping financially, such as through sustainability measures or operational adjustments
- The personal impact of energy hardship on business owners and employees
- What kinds of support non-domestic energy consumers need now and in the future
The findings will help the Utility Regulator identify practical ways to ease financial stress and improve the resilience of small businesses in Northern Ireland.
Who Can Take Part?
Perceptive Insight is looking to speak with a range of small businesses that are feeling the pressure of rising costs. This may include businesses that:
- Are not currently experiencing growth
- Are concerned about increasing energy prices
- Have struggled at times to pay their energy bills
Whether you run a café, a manufacturing workshop, or a professional service firm, your experience matters.
What’s Involved?
Participants will be invited to take part in a one-to-one discussion with a trained Perceptive Insight researcher — either online or in person, whichever is more convenient.
Interviews will last between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on the session type, and participants will receive a cash incentive as a thank-you for their time.
All interviews will be conducted in line with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct, ensuring professionalism and ethical standards throughout.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
Perceptive Insight takes privacy seriously. All information collected during the study will:
- Remain strictly confidential
- Be anonymised so individual participants cannot be identified
- Be used only for research purposes
- Be protected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018
Participants are free to withdraw from the study at any time.
Get Involved
If you’re a small business owner experiencing financial stress due to rising energy costs, your insight could make a real difference.
To find out more or to take part in the study, please contact:
📞 028 9073 7090
📧 office.manager@pimr.co.uk
🌐 www.perceptiveinsight.co.uk