FAQs
The questions and answers below cover a number of topics that we've been asked about before – if you can't find the answer to your specific question, please contact the Big Voice Community Manager
here.
General
Q: What is Big Voice Community Panel?
A: The Big Voice community panel is a closed online research community found at
www.fsbbigvoice.co.uk. FSB members have their voice heard through taking part in online surveys and research discussions. Your participation in this research will give the FSB the evidence to shape and support their campaigning and lobbying for small businesses with government at the local, national and European level.
Q: What are Big Voice Community Panel members expected to do?
A: To become a member of the Big Voice community panel, you will need to register online by answering a few simple questions about yourself and your business. After you've successfully signed up, we will invite you to take part in online surveys around once a month. Sometimes we will invite you to participate in other kinds of activity such as online research discussions or interviews. Research will cover a variety of topics affecting small businesses. We try to make them as interesting as possible and invite you to the ones that are relevant to you.
Q: What do members get in return for contributing to Big Voice Community Panel?
A: In return for sharing your views and opinions, we will share research results, give feedback on how your input is helping to shape the FSB’s agenda for lobbying, and where your input has helped drive change in policy. Feedback will be shared on the Big Voice Community hub and in member newsletters.
Q: How long will I be a member of The Big Voice Community Panel?
A: You can be a member for as long as you wish. You can be a member of Big Voice whether you are an FSB member or not. You do not have to respond to all activities to which you are invited. However, if you do not participate in any activity over a 6 month period, we will contact you to check if you would like to continue as a Big Voice member, and remove you if you do not respond or indicate that you would like to be removed.
Q: Who is Verve?
A: Verve Partners Limited ("Verve") is an independent market research company that specialises in building and managing online communities. The FSB has commissioned Verve to manage Big Voice. Verve is responsible for the maintenance of the community panel website, setting up and managing research activities such as surveys and discussions, and community administration. Further information about Verve can be found at
www.addverve.com.
Research activities
Q: How do I take part in a Big Voice Community Panel activity?
A: You will be invited to take part in new surveys or research discussions by email. Follow the simple instructions in the email to take part.
Q: After I receive an invitation to take part in a survey, how soon do I have to complete it?
A: Some surveys will have a short turnaround time of a few days and others longer (around one or two weeks). Some completion deadlines may be extended.
Q: How are the results of the research used?
A: We will use the research and information you give us to support the FSB's agenda for lobbying, to provide evidence of how policy should be shaped to meet the needs of small businesses and to raise understanding of small business issues in the media. We may publish survey results in the press or use them in our internal marketing materials. All results will be published at an aggregate level and will be kept anonymous. More details can be found within the
Privacy Policy.
Q: What if I have questions about completing a survey?
A: If you have any questions, please email our support team by clicking
here.
Q: What if I have technical difficulties while completing an activity?
A: If you experience a technical problem while completing an activity, please email our support team by clicking
contact us.
Privacy
Q: What about privacy? What rights do I have as a Big Voice Community Panel member?
A: We value member participation in the Big Voice Community Panel, and therefore are committed to your right to privacy. Please read our
Privacy Policy for more information on how we protect your privacy.
Q: Will my personal information be given out to anyone without my permission?
A: No. All the information you provide to the Big Voice Community Panel is for market research purposes only. In some activities, we will ask whether you are willing to be re-contacted by FSB or the press about the content of that activity. If you say yes, we may pass on your details (e.g. email address) to the relevant company. In all other cases, the information you provide is confidential. You will receive no advertising or solicitations as a result of your participation. For more information, visit our
Privacy Policy.
Q: Will my answers to surveys and other activities always be used anonymously?
A: Your answers will be combined with those from other Big Voice Community Panel members, and reported at an aggregate level (e.g. 20% of community members think x). The only time we would quote you personally is if we follow up your response with your permission (see above) and you agreed to be quoted. In all other cases, comments will only be used anonymously.
Technical problems
Q: Do you need us to resolve a technical problem to do with the Big Voice Community Panel?
A: If you need us to resolve a technical problem, please email our support team by clicking
here.
Q: How quickly will someone respond to a message I send to the help desk?
A: We make every attempt to respond quickly to member enquiries, and are committed to maintaining a high level of service. On average, we try to respond to messages within a maximum of 48 hours if an enquiry is submitted during normal office hours and on the next available working day if the enquiry is submitted on the weekend or a bank holiday.
Q: My login password is not working.
A: Usernames and passwords are case sensitive so make sure the caps lock is turned off. It may also help to clear your cache in case your browser has saved an incorrect username or password. Please visit the help section of your internet browser to learn how to clear your cache, cookies, and temporary internet files.
If none of the above work, please click on the ‘Reset my password’ link on the
Login page and enter your email address and the code you see on the page. We will send you an email containing your new password.
Q: When I try to login, I receive an 'Invalid email address or password' message.
A: Usernames and passwords are case sensitive so make sure the caps lock is turned off. It may also help to clear your cache in case your browser has saved an incorrect username or password. Please visit the help section of your internet browser to learn how to clear your cache, cookies, and temporary internet files.
Check that you're using the exact email that you used to register, if it's not exactly the same then it won't work.
If you can’t remember your login email, please click here.
If you can’t remember your login password, please click on the ‘Reset my password’ link on the
Login page and enter your email address and the code you see on the page. We will send you an email containing your new password.
Q: I have forgotten my password.
A: Simply click on the ‘Reset my password’ link on the
Login page and enter your email address and the code you see on the page. A link to reset your password will be emailed to the email address you registered with. If you still have problems please email our helpdesk. for further assistance.
Q: Do I need special computer hardware or software to participate?
A: The Big Voice Community Panel activities are designed to run quickly and easily on most computer systems (i.e. on most computer systems, tablets and mobile phones). All you need is:
- Access to a recent version of one of the common internet browsers.
- An email account.
- A web camera and sound card (this is required for some of the more interactive community features, but is not compulsory for community membership).
Q: I am not able to complete / submit the survey you have emailed me.
A: Have you filled in all survey fields?
To submit a survey, all required fields need to be filled in – so please double check that you have completed all required rows and columns.
A: Have you only used whole numbers when entering numerical data?
Surveys can only take whole numbers, so please check also that you have used only whole numbers when entering numerical data (e.g. 99 but not 99.99).
Other:
If you have checked all of the above, and are still having trouble completing or submitting a survey, please email
claire@fsbbigvoice.co.uk.
Q: I do not know how to answer certain survey questions.
A: Alongside all of our questions there should be an explanation which clearly states how the question should be answered. If this explanation is not clear, please email
claire@fsbbigvoice.co.uk.
Q: Other technical errors.
A: If you experience any other technical error related to Big Voice Community Panel website, or the surveys and research activities we ask you to complete, please email the helpdesk.
If you have any questions related to FSB services you receive, please contact FSB Customer Service directly.
If you are having problems which are not covered by the previous categories, please email
claire@fsbbigvoice.co.uk.
Customer service
Q: I have a customer services issue regarding The Federation of Small Businesses.
A: If you have any questions related to FSB services you receive, please contact FSB Customer Service directly.
If you are having problems which are not covered by the previous categories, please email
claire@fsbbigvoice.co.uk.
Q: I have a suggestion.
A: If you think we can improve how we do things in our surveys, forums or Big Voice Community Panel website, then we want to know. Click
here to let us know what you think.
Unsubscribe me
Q: I would like to unsubscribe.
A: You can end your membership of Big Voice Community Panel at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of email invites or by clicking
here to let us know via email. Unsubscribing from Big Voice does not impact on your membership of the FSB.
Your views are important to us and we are sorry you wish to leave the Big Voice Community Panel. Thank you for taking part so far.
Other
Q: I have a question that does not fit into any of the above categories.
A: For any other questions related to Big Voice Community Panel website or research, please click
here to contact our support desk.
A: If you have any questions related to FSB services you receive, please contact
FSB Customer Service directly or phone 0808 20 20 888