The aspects covered in this report are the cessation of activity, entrepreneurs in their businesses that group key resources in their different phases, their expectations, future plans and the measures required of administrations. This is intended to contribute to the definition of new lines of action that seek to be appropriate in a context as complex as it is unknown.

The "gap" (40% of business activity) and "uncertainty" (58% of companies points to this situation) are the adjectives that can summarize the first days of covid-19, aspects that make "maintaining work and surviving in this situation" are the main concerns of Spanish entrepreneurs. Almost half of the companies that have responded to the survey have continued to work thanks to telework, arguably the most important change that has occurred in the Spanish labour field. On the other hand, 40% have remained temporarily closed and only 10% have continued to work with their usual effectiveness.

If the average demand has fallen by 80%, deepening the figures shows striking differences. The final consumer-oriented services sector is the one that strengthens the crisis the most, as 66% have remained out of work, 2% are considering not reopening, 35% is a reduction in staff and only 7% plan to make new contracts. The other side of the services, which are provided to companies, have continued in telework, but with a 60% reduction in the application. So 35% plan to reduce staff, 45% want to reduce working hours and half plan to lower wages. To solve this crisis, the sector is thinking about finding new markets and customers (57%). Overall, from the first days of crisis, one in four companies has "reinvented themselves", due to the typology of the productive fabric and start-ups, of which, and according to the latest GEM Report, 75% has been dedicated to services, both for companies and for the final consumer.

Industry

On the other side is the industry, with companies that have held the majority of stocks (70%), despite the fall and uncertainty of demand has led to the reduction of staff and the reduction of working hours. For 48% have delayed their investment plan, 16% are trading again and about 25% point to the difficulty of taking risks to get out of this situation. The sector and the size of the company go hand in hand, in this way, the self-employed have been paralyzed in 48% of cases, expresses their concern for their financing, 70% had no funding planned, 44% see uncertainty in this area, so its main demand (78%) it is directed to the administration to eliminate the share of self-employed and more public funds, as 1 in 4 considers it insufficient to deal with the crisis.

Companies with more than 50 employees have survived in the form of telework, they are thinking of reorienting their business model (65%), increasing their resources (12%) or to apply for extra funding (45%). Another additional concern added to their uncertainty and employment coincides with the closure of borders and barriers currently occurring in internationalization. In this sense, the creation of lines of support for internationalization (33% mainly industrial) and the removal of bureaucratic barriers (72%) are administration measures that could contribute to recovery.

Start-ups

Separate mention deserves companies in the creation phase (10% of the Spanish population points out in the GEM reports their intention to undertake), which are the seed of business regeneration. In the post-crisis periods of 2008, its paralysis was one of the most important problems of entrepreneurial activity.

A large majority of companies consulted (96%) sees opportunities for any company (14%) or in an extraordinary way (30%), or for those who have resources or are diversified (26%). In the latter section would be the operatives, but it seems clear that spanish entrepreneurs see the opportunities, certainly the most optimistic note in the whole analysis and what should be ordered for these new companies. Only 4% have rejected their plans, 45% will change their business model, but there is still 35% that has paralyzed their plans. Its main demand (75%) are measures to support the creation of new companies.

This ability to identify the opportunities of this study, which in this time of new uncertainties and fears, together with the rise of the degree of innovation and dynamism, reflecting intelligence in action, is seen in all aspects, are the seeds of future prosperity. Therefore, being aware of the current destruction reflected in the research itself, its results invite a calm optimism in the future, as well as a faith in the ability to resume action and to create the transformations necessary to create a less sensitive and more articulate society.