Ashford, Kent

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Ashford when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Ashford when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Ashford when compared to any previous October.
  • December 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Ashford when compared to any previous December.

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 (2012)

    A total of 745 companies were formed in Ashford in 2012. This total is 4.9% higher than in 2011 and compares poorly to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearAshfordUK
    2012745491,893
    2011710452,870
    2010665400,358
    2009650362,675
    2008631349,203
    Record Year2007 (777)2012 (491,893)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 364 companies were formed in Ashford. This figure is 5.8% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    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
    2012364238,743
    2011344224,135
    % change5.8%6.5%
    Record Year2002 (379)2012 (238,743)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Ashford when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 184 companies were registered in Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 14.3% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 9.4% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)AshfordUK
    2012184119,875
    2011161109,623
    % change14.3%9.4%
    Record Year 2012 (184) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Ashford when compared to any previous December.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2012696253
    New companies in 2011556046
    % change25.5%3.3%15.2%
    Record Year2002 (75)2007 (70)2012 (53)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 524 companies were dissolved in Ashford in 2012. This total is 16.3% lower than in 2011 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearAshfordUK
    2012524293,728
    2011626314,524
    2010623342,233
    2009772533,787
    2008375237,873
    Record Year2009 (772)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 232 companies were dissolved in Ashford. This figure is 29.1% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    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
    2012232145,934
    2011327152,213
    % change-29.1%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (336)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 110 companies were dissolved in Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 52.0% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 12.4% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)AshfordUK
    201211070,026
    201122979,983
    % change-52.0%-12.4%
    Record Year 2011 (229) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Ashford when compared to any previous October.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2012474221
    Closed companies in 20114012762
    % change17.5%-66.9%-66%
    Record Year2012 (47)2011 (127)2009 (62)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 221 companies were added to the company register for Ashford in 2012. This number represents growth of 31.1% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 137 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
    2012221198,165
    201184138,346
    20104258,125
    2009-122-171,112
    2008256111,330
    Record Year2003 (485)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Ashford increased by 132 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)AshfordUK
    201213292,809
    20111771,922
    Record Year2002 (243)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for Ashford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 74 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)AshfordUK
    20127449,849
    2011-6829,640
    Record Year 2003 (107) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Ashford when compared to any previous December.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2012222032
    Net growth in 201115-67-16
    Record Year2003 (52)2007 (38)2012 (32)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2011 when Ashford was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearAshford
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)2002 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2011 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Ashford
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1976 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, Ashford formed 0.2% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Ashford
    20120.2%
    20110.1%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1970 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.1%0.1%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20110.1%0.1%0.2%
    % change5.4%-1.7%12.2%
    Record Year1961 (0.4%)1980 (0.4%)1970 (0.4%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 44.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2012 was 44.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.0% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2012 was 43.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.7% compared to the UK figure of 3.9%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The record year for female directors in Ashford was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Ashford in 2012 was 36.2%. The average for the UK during this time was 29.9%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

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

    28.5% of all director appointments in Ashford in the second half of 2012 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.5% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in Ashford was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    29.2% of all director appointments in Ashford in the fourth quarter of 2012 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.3% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2011-Dec 2012)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    KENT1.53%CONSULTING5.15%
    CONSULTING1.37%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    ASHFORD1.13%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    MANAGEMENT1.05%PROPERTY2.40%
    ASSOCIATES1.05%TRADING2.03%
    FOODS0.97%DESIGN1.86%
    CONSULTANCY0.81%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    J0.73%ENGINEERING1.79%
    TRADING0.65%BUSINESS1.76%
    BUILDING0.56%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    CONSULTANTS0.56%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    DESIGN0.56%LONDON1.69%
    CONSTRUCTION0.56%MEDIA1.69%
    FINANCIAL0.48%GLOBAL1.59%
    IT0.48%J1.57%
    PROPERTY0.48%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    HOUSE0.48%IT1.43%
    S0.48%CARE1.39%
    CLUB0.40%PROPERTIES1.34%
    ELECTRICAL0.40%M1.26%
    BUSINESS0.40%BUILDING1.23%
    TREE0.40%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    ENTERPRISES0.40%TRAINING1.18%
    MARKETING0.40%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    C0.40%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied268236,139
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified8052,427
    99999 - Dormant Company5940,648
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management4630,396
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified3722,058
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities3723,256
    46320 - Wholesale of meat and meat products30417
    74990 - Non-trading company2313,808
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified2315,572
    47990 - Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets194,829
    7487 - Other business activities1810,703
    86900 - Other human health activities187,866
    62090 - Other information technology service activities1812,291
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet186,307
    43210 - Electrical installation165,304
    85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified154,677
    41100 - Development of building projects157,980
    56302 - Public houses and bars134,543
    68310 - Real estate agencies133,270
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate126,971

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08278134 MRG MARINE LTD 01 Nov 2012
    08278880 MARSHALL DOMAINS LTD 02 Nov 2012
    08285820 HHE CONTRACTING LIMITED 08 Nov 2012
    08286920 COMECO2 COMPANY LTD 08 Nov 2012
    08289242 VIRTUAL BEAUTY COURSES LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08294327 REINVENT LIFESTYLE CORPORATE LIMITED 15 Nov 2012
    08304610 MESHCORE INDUSTRIES LTD 22 Nov 2012
    08286553 COMPLETELY BATHROOMS & KITCHENS LTD 08 Nov 2012
    08296834 TRANQUIL EARTH GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LIMITED 16 Nov 2012
    08297381 DOWN IN ALBION CLOTHING LIMITED 19 Nov 2012
    08302647 SHS CAFE LTD 21 Nov 2012
    08302938 BPF CONSULTING SERVICES LTD 21 Nov 2012
    08314922 PERSONALISED PET PRODUCTS LTD 30 Nov 2012
    08276388 ZAMBEZI APPAREL LIMITED 01 Nov 2012
    08289845 GLOBAL MINING RECRUITMENT LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08300245 ILUK MARKETING LIMITED 20 Nov 2012
    08311855 WORLD EDUCATION LTD 29 Nov 2012
    08288877 GREENDEAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08289191 SUPPLYWORLD LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08300221 AMBERSHAW LIMITED 20 Nov 2012
    08311427 CLARUS HOMES (DESIGN & BUILD) LTD 28 Nov 2012
    08276815 INVICTA MARTLET LIMITED 01 Nov 2012
    08278975 NINICRU LIMITED 02 Nov 2012
    08284766 CITYPARENTS LIMITED 07 Nov 2012
    08314356 EVALITY LTD 30 Nov 2012