Ashford, Kent

2010 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Ashford when compared to any previous November.

Contents

  1. New Company Registrations
  2. Closed Companies (dissolved)
  3. Net Company Growth
  4. UK Company Share
  5. Director Age
  6. Director Gender
  7. Naming Trends
  8. SIC Data
  9. Recent Companies

New Company Registrations

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 665 companies were formed in Ashford in 2010. This total is 2.3% higher than in 2009 and compares poorly to the UK figure of a 10.4% growth compared to 362,675 the previous year.

    YearAshfordUK
    2010665400,358
    2009650362,675
    2008631349,203
    2007777457,649
    2006652405,440
    Record Year2007 (777)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 320 companies were formed in Ashford. This figure is 1.5% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.8%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Ashford occurred in 2002 when a total of 379 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)AshfordUK
    2010320196,609
    2009325180,654
    % change-1.5%8.8%
    Record Year2002 (379)2003 (201,446)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 144 companies were registered in Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is an increase of 2.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares badly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 10.6% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)AshfordUK
    201014495,117
    200914085,983
    % change2.9%10.6%
    Record Year 2002 (174) 2010 (95,117)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2010485640
    New companies in 2009733730
    % change-34.2%51.4%33.3%
    Record Year2002 (75)2007 (70)2005 (51)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 623 companies were dissolved in Ashford in 2010. This total is 19.3% lower than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 35.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearAshfordUK
    2010623342,232
    2009772533,773
    2008375237,901
    2007367220,295
    2006361200,166
    Record Year2009 (772)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 298 companies were dissolved in Ashford. This figure is 11.3% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -32.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Ashford occurred in 2009 when a total of 336 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)AshfordUK
    2010298164,601
    2009336244,537
    % change-11.3%-32.7%
    Record Year2009 (336)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 128 companies were dissolved in Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is a decrease of 6.6% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 9.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)AshfordUK
    201012876,896
    200913785,136
    % change-6.6%-9.7%
    Record Year 2009 (137) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Ashford when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2010375635
    Closed companies in 2009423362
    % change-11.9%69.7%-44%
    Record Year2007 (44)2010 (56)2009 (62)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 42 companies were added to the company register for Ashford in 2010. This number represents growth of 6.5% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 16.0%.

    This number is 164 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2003 when the Ashford company register grew by 485 companies.

    YearAshfordUK
    20104258,126
    2009-122-171,098
    2008256111,302
    2007410237,354
    2006291205,274
    Record Year2003 (485)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 the company register for Ashford increased by 22 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)AshfordUK
    20102232,008
    2009-11-63,883
    Record Year2002 (243)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Net company growth for Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010) was 16 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)AshfordUK
    20101618,221
    20093847
    Record Year 2003 (107) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20101105
    Net growth in 2009314-32
    Record Year2003 (52)2007 (38)2007 (28)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    In 2010 Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2009 when Ashford was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearAshford
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    20070.2%
    20060.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)2002 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2009 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Ashford
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    20070.2%
    20060.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1976 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    In the fourth quarter of 2010, Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)Ashford
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    20070.2%
    20060.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1970 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20100.1%0.2%0.1%
    UK formation share in 20090.2%0.1%0.1%
    % change-42.4%35.3%26.9%
    Record Year1961 (0.4%)1980 (0.4%)1970 (0.4%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The average age of a director in 2010 was 45.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.9% compared to the UK figure of 2.5%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2010 was 45.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.4% compared to the UK figure of 2.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.6% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2010 was 46.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.6% compared to the UK figure of 3.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 6.1% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The record year for female directors in Ashford was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Ashford in 2010 was 32.6%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.2%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The record second half year for female directors in Ashford was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    24.8% of all director appointments in Ashford in the second half of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.0% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in Ashford was in 1977 when 31.1% of all directors were female.

    28.3% of all director appointments in Ashford in the fourth quarter of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 24.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2009-Dec 2010)

    Excluding: LIMITED, LTD, &, UK, SERVICES, THE, (UK), AND, LTD., A, LLP, SOLUTIONS, COMPANY, OF.

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    FOODS3.18%CONSULTING5.06%
    MANAGEMENT1.27%MANAGEMENT5.01%
    J1.00%CONSULTANCY3.14%
    KENT1.00%PROPERTY2.36%
    (KENT)1.00%TRADING2.11%
    S0.91%ASSOCIATES1.95%
    BUILDING0.91%DESIGN1.92%
    TRAINING0.82%BUSINESS1.82%
    ASHFORD0.73%CONSTRUCTION1.82%
    CONSTRUCTION0.73%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    NORMAS0.73%MEDIA1.71%
    CONSULTANCY0.64%ENGINEERING1.62%
    ENGINEERING0.64%LONDON1.60%
    SYSTEMS0.54%CARE1.45%
    CONSULTING0.54%INVESTMENTS1.44%
    MEDIA0.54%GLOBAL1.43%
    ASSOCIATES0.54%J1.42%
    EAST0.54%IT1.41%
    BUSINESS0.54%PROPERTIES1.34%
    ZAGONDA0.45%INTERNATIONAL1.34%
    CAFE0.45%BUILDING1.34%
    ONLINE0.45%M1.30%
    ENTERPRISES0.45%ELECTRICAL1.25%
    SUPPLIES0.45%SYSTEMS1.24%
    SOUTH0.45%S1.23%

SIC Data

  1. Previous 36 months, excluding companies less than 12 months old

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied268199,572
    7487 - Other business activities13063,348
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified4427,550
    7414 - Business & management consultancy3913,474
    9999 - Dormant Company3420,144
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management3014,505
    99999 - Dormant Company2616,285
    5132 - Wholesale of meat and meat products24203
    7499 - Non-trading company2012,000
    9305 - Other service activities208,858
    32990 - Other manufacturing not elsewhere classified191,405
    74990 - Non-trading company198,243
    62090 - Other information technology service activities166,330
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified157,088
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified158,799
    7260 - Other computer related activities138,089
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities139,177
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply107,298
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering106,598
    73110 - Advertising agencies101,451

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07420240 HUMANIX LIMITED 27 Oct 2010
    07417472 LITTLEBROOK DRIVING SERVICES LTD 25 Oct 2010
    07416079 BOLEYN ASSETS LIMITED 22 Oct 2010
    07414832 ALMAS ESTATES LIMITED 21 Oct 2010
    07411935 GO4COMPARE.COM LTD 19 Oct 2010
    07407714 SILCOCK HOLDINGS SOUTH EAST LIMITED 14 Oct 2010
    07407137 SHEPWAY BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD 14 Oct 2010
    07405913 MAPLE SERVICES LABOUR & ENGINEERING LTD 13 Oct 2010
    07405855 COMPARECHEAP.CO LTD 13 Oct 2010
    07401736 NSC MANAGEMENT LIMITED 08 Oct 2010
    07400363 GPM (ASHFORD) LIMITED 07 Oct 2010
    07399221 ANGEL DIGITAL MEDIA LIMITED 07 Oct 2010
    07398344 S AND J SCAFFOLDING LIMITED 06 Oct 2010
    07395684 PMVA TRAINING LTD 04 Oct 2010
    OC358776 MOTION FILM LLP 18 Oct 2010
    07401023 MSJBC LTD 08 Oct 2010
    07400333 EIC SITE SERVICES LIMITED 07 Oct 2010
    07398565 RH ASSOCIATES (SOUTH EAST) LIMITED 06 Oct 2010
    07396347 BURDEN CONTRACTORS LIMITED 05 Oct 2010
    07423405 CLOUD FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED 29 Oct 2010
    07398478 MICROMARVEL LIMITED 06 Oct 2010
    OC358826 COLE AGRI-BUILD LLP 20 Oct 2010
    07410534 OFFICE MINDER LTD 18 Oct 2010
    07407837 D.J. KING LTD 14 Oct 2010
    OC358742 TREVOR HEATHCOTE LLP 18 Oct 2010