Bedford, Bedfordshire

2010 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Bedford 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 1,212 companies were formed in Bedford in 2010. This total is 4.8% higher than in 2009 and compares poorly to the UK figure of a 10.4% growth compared to 362,675 the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    20101,212400,358
    20091,156362,675
    20081,088349,203
    20071,208457,649
    20061,041405,440
    Record Year2003 (1,254)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 589 companies were formed in Bedford. This figure is 1.9% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.8%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Bedford occurred in 2005 when a total of 633 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    2010589196,609
    2009578180,654
    % change1.9%8.8%
    Record Year2005 (633)2003 (201,446)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 269 companies were registered in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is a decrease 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)BedfordUK
    201026995,117
    200927785,983
    % change-2.9%10.6%
    Record Year 2003 (299) 2010 (95,117)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201010310462
    New companies in 20098911969
    % change15.7%-12.6%-10.1%
    Record Year2005 (116)2009 (119)2008 (84)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 869 companies were dissolved in Bedford in 2010. This total is 31.6% lower than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 35.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    2010869342,232
    20091,270533,773
    2008563237,901
    2007724220,295
    2006616200,166
    Record Year2009 (1,270)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 419 companies were dissolved in Bedford. This figure is 24.4% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -32.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Bedford occurred in 2009 when a total of 554 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    2010419164,601
    2009554244,537
    % change-24.4%-32.7%
    Record Year2009 (554)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 195 companies were dissolved in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is a decrease of 12.6% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares well 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)BedfordUK
    201019576,896
    200922385,136
    % change-12.6%-9.7%
    Record Year 2009 (223) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2010659040
    Closed companies in 2009706786
    % change-7.1%34.3%-53%
    Record Year2009 (70)2010 (90)2009 (86)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 343 companies were added to the company register for Bedford in 2010. This number represents growth of 29.7% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 16.0%.

    This number is 457 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2003 when the Bedford company register grew by 802 companies.

    YearBedfordUK
    201034358,126
    2009-114-171,098
    2008525111,302
    2007484237,354
    2006425205,274
    Record Year2003 (802)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 the company register for Bedford increased by 170 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    201017032,008
    200924-63,883
    Record Year2005 (341)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Net company growth for Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010) was 74 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)BedfordUK
    20107418,221
    200954847
    Record Year 2003 (187) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2010381422
    Net growth in 20091952-17
    Record Year2008 (83)2003 (66)2003 (54)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    In 2010 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2009 when Bedford was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearBedford
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1965 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2009 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Bedford
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1965 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    In the fourth quarter of 2010, Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)Bedford
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.4%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (0.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.3%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20090.3%0.4%0.3%
    % change1.4%-21.9%-14.5%
    Record Year1968 (0.9%)1965 (0.8%)1962 (0.8%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The average age of a director in 2010 was 45.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.1% compared to the UK figure of 2.5%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.3% 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 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 2.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.8% 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 45.4.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 3.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.2% 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 Bedford was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Bedford in 2010 was 29.6%. 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 Bedford was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    28.8% of all director appointments in Bedford 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 Bedford was in 1977 when 31.1% of all directors were female.

    27.7% of all director appointments in Bedford 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
    MANAGEMENT1.45%CONSULTING5.06%
    CONSULTING1.18%MANAGEMENT5.01%
    BEDFORD0.80%CONSULTANCY3.14%
    PROPERTY0.80%PROPERTY2.36%
    CONSULTANTS0.80%TRADING2.11%
    CARE0.75%ASSOCIATES1.95%
    J0.75%DESIGN1.92%
    (BEDFORD)0.75%BUSINESS1.82%
    CONSULTANCY0.70%CONSTRUCTION1.82%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.64%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    PLUMBING0.59%MEDIA1.71%
    DESIGN0.59%ENGINEERING1.62%
    ASSOCIATES0.59%LONDON1.60%
    BUILDING0.54%CARE1.45%
    INTERIORS0.54%INVESTMENTS1.44%
    VENTURES0.54%GLOBAL1.43%
    HEATING0.54%J1.42%
    M0.54%IT1.41%
    CONSTRUCTION0.54%PROPERTIES1.34%
    T0.54%INTERNATIONAL1.34%
    LANDMARK0.48%BUILDING1.34%
    IT0.48%M1.30%
    CLEANING0.43%ELECTRICAL1.25%
    CENTRE0.43%SYSTEMS1.24%
    HOMES0.43%S1.23%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied506199,572
    7487 - Other business activities14263,348
    99999 - Dormant Company6816,285
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management6514,505
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified5927,550
    9999 - Dormant Company5720,144
    7414 - Business & management consultancy5513,474
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities359,177
    7260 - Other computer related activities348,089
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified328,799
    62090 - Other information technology service activities316,330
    9305 - Other service activities258,858
    7499 - Non-trading company2412,000
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering246,598
    74990 - Non-trading company238,243
    5530 - Restaurants224,939
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified207,088
    43210 - Electrical installation202,980
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply187,298
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities173,088

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07421688 IDEAL SUPERMARKET LIMITED 28 Oct 2010
    07421399 SCRIBES FOR HIRE LIMITED 27 Oct 2010
    07420716 HEATING ENGINEERS LIMITED 27 Oct 2010
    07414482 UK BUSINESS ADVICE LIMITED 21 Oct 2010
    07411511 CARLYLE PROPERTY GROUP LIMITED 19 Oct 2010
    07405304 GEOPACE LIMITED 12 Oct 2010
    07403889 TSFH LTD 12 Oct 2010
    07396436 GA WOOLSTON PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED 05 Oct 2010
    07417104 HERITAGE MEWS HARDINGSTONE LIMITED 25 Oct 2010
    07413783 B JEWELLERY LIMITED 20 Oct 2010
    07393764 MY SELF IMAGE LTD 01 Oct 2010
    07421098 OAKPIN LTD 27 Oct 2010
    07404578 THUMBS UP BARS AND CLUBS LIMITED 12 Oct 2010
    07395098 BLUE SYSTEM IT LIMITED 04 Oct 2010
    07422461 NICHE PORTFOLIO LTD 28 Oct 2010
    07420779 RIZON LTD 27 Oct 2010
    07396996 DOORSTEP ONLINE LIMITED 05 Oct 2010
    07423887 CONVENIENT REMOVALS LTD 29 Oct 2010
    07419936 69 LIMITED 26 Oct 2010
    07414577 AQUA BUILDING & PLUMBING LTD 21 Oct 2010
    07408397 RIKAS INSIGHT LTD 15 Oct 2010
    07403853 BEST GATEWAY TO SUCCESS LTD 12 Oct 2010
    07402182 UNITE EVENTS LIMITED 11 Oct 2010
    07402017 EQUIWORLD LIMITED 11 Oct 2010
    07397585 EBULLIENCE LTD 05 Oct 2010