Bedford, Bedfordshire

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2012 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous October.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Bedford when compared to any previous October.

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)

    2012 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,424 companies were formed in Bedford in 2012. This total is 9.0% higher than in 2011 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    20121,424491,893
    20111,306452,870
    20101,212400,358
    20091,156362,675
    20081,088349,203
    Record Year2012 (1,424)2012 (491,893)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    The second half of 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 683 companies were formed in Bedford. This figure is 8.2% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Bedford occurred in 2012 when a total of 683 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    2012683238,743
    2011631224,135
    % change8.2%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (683)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 Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 323 companies were registered in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 6.3% 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)BedfordUK
    2012323119,875
    2011304109,623
    % change6.3%9.4%
    Record Year 2012 (323) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    October 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201212711383
    New companies in 201111011183
    % change15.5%1.8%0.0%
    Record Year2012 (127)2009 (119)2008 (84)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 891 companies were dissolved in Bedford in 2012. This total is 13.6% higher than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    2012891293,728
    2011784314,524
    2010869342,233
    20091,270533,787
    2008563237,873
    Record Year2009 (1,270)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 404 companies were dissolved in Bedford. This figure is 9.2% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    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
    2012404145,934
    2011370152,213
    % change9.2%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (554)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 210 companies were dissolved in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 13.5% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares poorly 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)BedfordUK
    201221070,026
    201118579,983
    % change13.5%-12.4%
    Record Year 2009 (223) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20121046640
    Closed companies in 2011387671
    % change173.7%-13.2%-44%
    Record Year2012 (104)2010 (90)2009 (86)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 533 companies were added to the company register for Bedford in 2012. This number represents growth of 40.8% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 11 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
    2012533198,165
    2011522138,346
    201034358,125
    2009-114-171,112
    2008525111,330
    Record Year2003 (802)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Bedford increased by 279 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    201227992,809
    201126171,922
    Record Year2005 (341)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 113 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)BedfordUK
    201211349,849
    201111929,640
    Record Year 2003 (187) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2012234743
    Net growth in 2011723512
    Record Year2008 (83)2003 (66)2003 (54)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2011 when Bedford was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearBedford
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1965 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2011 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Bedford
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1965 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Bedford
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.4%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (0.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.3%0.3%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20110.3%0.3%0.3%
    % change-3.0%-3.1%-2.7%
    Record Year1968 (0.9%)1965 (0.8%)1962 (0.8%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 44.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.3% 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 44.0.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.5% 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 43.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.3% 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 Bedford was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Bedford in 2012 was 30.6%. 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 Bedford was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    29.7% of all director appointments in Bedford 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 Bedford was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    30.9% of all director appointments in Bedford 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
    CONSULTING1.53%CONSULTING5.15%
    MANAGEMENT1.44%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    CONSULTANCY1.39%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    PROPERTY0.93%PROPERTY2.40%
    BEDFORD0.83%TRADING2.03%
    CENTRE0.70%DESIGN1.86%
    M0.65%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    ELECTRICAL0.65%ENGINEERING1.79%
    BUILDING0.60%BUSINESS1.76%
    S0.60%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    DESIGN0.51%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    ENGINEERING0.51%LONDON1.69%
    HOME0.51%MEDIA1.69%
    MEDIA0.51%GLOBAL1.59%
    R0.46%J1.57%
    J0.46%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    D0.46%IT1.43%
    MEDICAL0.46%CARE1.39%
    (BEDFORD)0.46%PROPERTIES1.34%
    CAR0.46%M1.26%
    SECURITY0.42%BUILDING1.23%
    ROAD0.42%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    BUSINESS0.42%TRAINING1.18%
    CARE0.42%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    CONSTRUCTION0.42%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied590236,139
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management13630,396
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified12052,427
    99999 - Dormant Company10040,648
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities7623,256
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified5722,058
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4512,291
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified4315,572
    74990 - Non-trading company4013,808
    7487 - Other business activities3010,703
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified266,419
    43220 - Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation264,045
    56101 - Licensed restaurants266,400
    85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified234,677
    86900 - Other human health activities237,866
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing234,882
    49410 - Freight transport by road235,165
    41100 - Development of building projects237,980
    45200 - Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles224,290
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet226,307

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08324126 RANJHA ACCOUNTANTS LTD 10 Dec 2012
    08325469 SPEC OIL LTD 11 Dec 2012
    08327978 TOUCH NETWORKS LIMITED 12 Dec 2012
    08327992 SWEETY RESTAURANT LIMITED 12 Dec 2012
    08331263 POLISH DELICATESSEN LIMITED 14 Dec 2012
    08333895 WE CAN CREATIVE LTD 17 Dec 2012
    08336813 ADVANCED INSTALLATIONS MK LIMITED 19 Dec 2012
    08337809 DOREEN LAMBERT CATERING LTD 20 Dec 2012
    08341953 PARKER HEALTH LTD 27 Dec 2012
    08342300 BLADZ BARBERS LIMITED 28 Dec 2012
    08322006 BLACK SQUARE CONTRACTING LIMITED 06 Dec 2012
    08338585 BELIEVE IN YOUNG PEOPLE 20 Dec 2012
    08340142 GENIE CLEAN LIMITED 21 Dec 2012
    08320623 FORSETI LIMITED 06 Dec 2012
    08337698 FAIRWAY EVENTS LIMITED 20 Dec 2012
    08323849 DAMPCLEAR LIMITED 10 Dec 2012
    08333506 INNOVEAU SOLUTIONS LIMITED 17 Dec 2012
    08343150 HAMAKANG UK LTD. 31 Dec 2012
    08332966 BRUNCH BAR CATERING LIMITED 17 Dec 2012
    08342746 IACC EUROPE LIMITED 31 Dec 2012
    08317295 FGP CONSULTING LIMITED 04 Dec 2012
    08319511 MINOTTI CUCINE (CONTRACTS) LIMITED 05 Dec 2012
    08322964 KB MARINE EVENTS LIMITED 07 Dec 2012
    08329703 INNOVATIVE INTERIOR SYSTEMS LIMITED 13 Dec 2012
    08332131 SILVERWOOD CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED 14 Dec 2012