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Bedford, Bedfordshire

2011 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2011 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.
  • Q4 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.

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 (2011)

    2011 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,306 companies were formed in Bedford in 2011. This total is 7.8% higher than in 2010 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 13.1% growth compared to 400,358 the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    20111,306452,870
    20101,212400,358
    20091,156362,675
    20081,088349,203
    20071,208457,649
    Record Year2011 (1,306)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 631 companies were formed in Bedford. This figure is 7.1% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 14.0%.

    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
    2011631224,135
    2010589196,609
    % change7.1%14.0%
    Record Year2005 (633)2011 (224,135)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Q4 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 304 companies were registered in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is an increase of 13.0% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares badly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 15.3% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)BedfordUK
    2011304109,623
    201026995,117
    % change13.0%15.3%
    Record Year 2011 (304) 2011 (109,623)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201111011183
    New companies in 201010310462
    % change6.8%6.7%33.9%
    Record Year2005 (116)2009 (119)2008 (84)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 785 companies were dissolved in Bedford in 2011. This total is 9.7% lower than in 2010 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    2011785314,523
    2010869342,232
    20091,270533,773
    2008563237,901
    2007724220,295
    Record Year2009 (1,270)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 371 companies were dissolved in Bedford. This figure is 11.5% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -7.5%.

    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
    2011371152,213
    2010419164,601
    % change-11.5%-7.5%
    Record Year2009 (554)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    A total of 186 companies were dissolved in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is a decrease of 4.6% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 4.0% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)BedfordUK
    201118679,983
    201019576,896
    % change-4.6%4.0%
    Record Year 2009 (223) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2011387771
    Closed companies in 2010659040
    % change-41.5%-14.4%78%
    Record Year2009 (70)2010 (90)2009 (86)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 521 companies were added to the company register for Bedford in 2011. This number represents growth of 43.0% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 34.6%.

    This number is 178 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
    2011521138,347
    201034358,126
    2009-114-171,098
    2008525111,302
    2007484237,354
    Record Year2003 (802)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 the company register for Bedford increased by 260 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    201126071,922
    201017032,008
    Record Year2005 (341)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Net company growth for Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011) was 118 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)BedfordUK
    201111829,640
    20107418,221
    Record Year 2003 (187) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2011723412
    Net growth in 2010381422
    Record Year2008 (83)2003 (66)2003 (54)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    In 2011 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2010 when Bedford was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearBedford
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1965 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2010 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Bedford
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1965 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    In the fourth quarter of 2011, Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)Bedford
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.4%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (0.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20110.3%0.3%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.3%0.2%
    % change-7.2%-9.1%18.7%
    Record Year1968 (0.9%)1965 (0.8%)1962 (0.8%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    The average age of a director in 2011 was 44.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.5% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2011 was 44.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.1% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.6% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 44.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.0% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    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 2011 was 29.4%. The average for the UK during this time was 28.6%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

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

    28.1% of all director appointments in Bedford in the second half of 2011 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

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

    27.0% of all director appointments in Bedford in the fourth quarter of 2011 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 2010-Dec 2011)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    MANAGEMENT1.65%CONSULTING5.07%
    CONSULTING1.60%MANAGEMENT4.74%
    CONSULTANCY1.25%CONSULTANCY3.26%
    J1.10%PROPERTY2.37%
    BEDFORD0.85%TRADING2.07%
    PROPERTY0.85%DESIGN1.92%
    VENTURES0.70%ASSOCIATES1.86%
    (BEDFORD)0.70%ENGINEERING1.78%
    D0.65%BUSINESS1.78%
    CONSULTANTS0.65%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    ENGINEERING0.65%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    ASSOCIATES0.65%MEDIA1.71%
    DESIGN0.60%LONDON1.63%
    S0.60%J1.51%
    BUILDING0.55%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    CO0.55%GLOBAL1.46%
    ACADEMY0.55%IT1.41%
    IT0.50%CARE1.39%
    CARS0.50%PROPERTIES1.29%
    M0.50%ELECTRICAL1.29%
    INTERNATIONAL0.45%M1.27%
    B0.45%BUILDING1.26%
    SYSTEMS0.45%ENERGY1.25%
    SECURITY0.40%S1.20%
    TRADING0.40%ENTERPRISES1.20%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied520205,525
    7487 - Other business activities14357,052
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management7917,765
    99999 - Dormant Company7721,846
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified7332,483
    9999 - Dormant Company6120,199
    7414 - Business & management consultancy4913,034
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities3712,072
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified3511,768
    7499 - Non-trading company349,957
    62090 - Other information technology service activities347,493
    7260 - Other computer related activities327,667
    74990 - Non-trading company278,929
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply257,398
    9305 - Other service activities239,492
    43220 - Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation222,372
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified198,671
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering195,558
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing172,832
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified173,342

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07796068 CHELSEA MAINTENANCE LTD 04 Oct 2011
    07796104 FLY COSMOS LTD 04 Oct 2011
    07799563 CONNECT FAMILY PLACEMENTS LIMITED 06 Oct 2011
    07812436 MSD GLOBAL LIMITED 17 Oct 2011
    07813648 ALTERNATE DIMENSIONS LTD 18 Oct 2011
    07814700 SPORTS4WELLBEING LTD 18 Oct 2011
    07800656 BEDFORD BUDGET SKIPS LTD 06 Oct 2011
    07808581 LENEHAN LTD. 13 Oct 2011
    07813931 ANNIE BEE'S JEWELLERY LIMITED 18 Oct 2011
    07814127 N&K BUILDING SERVICES LIMITED 18 Oct 2011
    07817767 OUT-SIDE-IN: CENTRE FOR PERSONAL, CREATIVE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CIC 20 Oct 2011
    07822083 LK AUTOLINK LTD 25 Oct 2011
    07802227 ICKNIELD (BALDOCK) LIMITED 07 Oct 2011
    07803206 URAMERMAID LTD 10 Oct 2011
    07807169 RT TELECOMS & ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED 12 Oct 2011
    07819301 VIRTUALFORMS.NET LIMITED 21 Oct 2011
    07799256 P.S. ARB LIMITED 06 Oct 2011
    07799519 HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING LIMITED 06 Oct 2011
    07802905 MTB PARTS LTD 10 Oct 2011
    07812203 WORLDWIDE-EXPEDITING LIMITED 17 Oct 2011
    07814715 THE NUDE EWE CONSERVATION WOOLS C.I.C. 18 Oct 2011
    07814938 CUSTOM TEK LIMITED 19 Oct 2011
    07818436 KIELTY & ANDERSON CONSULTANTS LTD 20 Oct 2011
    07820373 TARMAC TERRORISTS LIMITED 24 Oct 2011
    07797375 PARAGON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND LETTINGS LTD. 04 Oct 2011