Bedford, Bedfordshire

2013 Annual Business Confidence Report

NOTICE: We have improved our calculations of the statistics in these reports, so some figures and records may not match previous reports.

Headlines

  • 2013 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous October.
  • December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in Bedford when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2013 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 (2013)

    2013 was a record year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,533 companies were formed in Bedford in 2013. This total is 7.7% higher than in 2012 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 7.6% growth compared to 491,893 the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    20131,533529,363
    20121,424491,893
    20111,306452,870
    20101,212400,358
    20091,156362,675
    Record Year2013 (1,533)2013 (529,363)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 714 companies were formed in Bedford. This figure is 4.5% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.9%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Bedford occurred in 2013 when a total of 714 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    2013714259,931
    2012683238,743
    % change4.5%8.9%
    Record Year2013 (714)2013 (259,931)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    Q4 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 369 companies were registered in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 14.2% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 6.1% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)BedfordUK
    2013369127,247
    2012323119,875
    % change14.2%6.1%
    Record Year 2013 (369) 2013 (127,247)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    December 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous December.

    October 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2013145111113
    New companies in 201212711383
    % change14.2%-1.8%36.1%
    Record Year2013 (145)2009 (119)2013 (113)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 950 companies were dissolved in Bedford in 2013. This total is 6.6% higher than in 2012 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 13.1% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearBedfordUK
    2013950332,213
    2012891293,729
    2011784314,524
    2010869342,233
    20091,270533,789
    Record Year2009 (1,270)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 508 companies were dissolved in Bedford. This figure is 25.7% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 21.3%.

    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
    2013508177,021
    2012404145,935
    % change25.7%21.3%
    Record Year2009 (554)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    A total of 278 companies were dissolved in Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 32.4% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 29.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)BedfordUK
    201327890,851
    201221070,027
    % change32.4%29.7%
    Record Year 2013 (278) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in Bedford when compared to any previous December.

    November 2013 saw a new record in company closures in Bedford when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20138692100
    Closed companies in 20121046640
    % change-17.3%39.4%150%
    Record Year2012 (104)2013 (92)2013 (100)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 583 companies were added to the company register for Bedford in 2013. This number represents growth of 38.0% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 37.2%.

    This number is 50 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2005 when the Bedford company register grew by 588 companies.

    YearBedfordUK
    2013583197,150
    2012533198,164
    2011522138,346
    201034358,125
    2009-114-171,114
    Record Year2005 (588)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 the company register for Bedford increased by 206 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BedfordUK
    201320682,910
    201227992,808
    Record Year2005 (341)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    Net company growth for Bedford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013) was 91 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)BedfordUK
    20139136,396
    201211349,848
    Record Year 2008 (167) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2013591913
    Net growth in 2012234743
    Record Year2008 (83)2003 (66)2003 (54)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    In 2013 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2012 when Bedford was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearBedford
    20130.3%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1993 (0.3%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2012 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Bedford
    20130.3%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1993 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    In the fourth quarter of 2013, Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)Bedford
    20130.3%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 2008 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20130.3%0.3%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20120.3%0.3%0.3%
    % change6.1%-3.4%23.8%
    Record Year1995 (0.4%)1986 (0.4%)1999 (0.4%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The average age of a director in 2013 was 44.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.9%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2013 was 43.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.9% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.8%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 44.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.6% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.1% compared to the UK figure of 5.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The record year for female directors in Bedford was 1978 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Bedford in 2013 was 26.2%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.0%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The record second half year for female directors in Bedford was 2004 when 32.1% of all directors were female.

    24.3% of all director appointments in Bedford in the second half of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.9% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in Bedford was in 2012 when 34.3% of all directors were female.

    24.9% of all director appointments in Bedford in the fourth quarter of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.6% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2012-Dec 2013)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING1.57%CONSULTING5.22%
    MANAGEMENT1.27%MANAGEMENT4.72%
    CONSULTANCY1.18%CONSULTANCY3.45%
    PROPERTY1.13%PROPERTY2.59%
    CARE0.92%TRADING2.08%
    BEDFORD0.87%ENGINEERING1.87%
    C0.70%LONDON1.86%
    ASSOCIATES0.70%DESIGN1.76%
    BUSINESS0.65%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    ENGINEERING0.65%CARE1.73%
    CONSTRUCTION0.61%BUSINESS1.71%
    CONSULTANTS0.61%CONSULTANTS1.68%
    S0.61%GLOBAL1.58%
    (BEDFORD)0.61%INVESTMENTS1.56%
    TRAINING0.61%PROPERTIES1.54%
    J0.57%ASSOCIATES1.53%
    DESIGN0.57%J1.51%
    PROPERTIES0.52%MEDIA1.50%
    B0.52%IT1.35%
    DEVELOPMENT0.48%DEVELOPMENTS1.23%
    TRANSPORT0.44%M1.23%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.44%BUILDING1.21%
    IT0.44%ELECTRICAL1.20%
    R0.44%CAPITAL1.19%
    TRADING0.39%ENERGY1.14%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied638266,814
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management15236,164
    99999 - Dormant Company12046,762
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities8927,183
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified8755,342
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified8026,001
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified5618,034
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4512,511
    86900 - Other human health activities389,543
    41100 - Development of building projects369,485
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified347,823
    56101 - Licensed restaurants327,685
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet328,879
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing315,405
    74990 - Non-trading company2814,223
    96020 - Hairdressing and other beauty treatment286,000
    49410 - Freight transport by road277,333
    47990 - Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets265,800
    85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified255,698
    62012 - Business and domestic software development249,360

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08735403 GOODWILLS LEGAL SERVICES LIMITED 16 Oct 2013
    08737398 WESTCLIFF MEDIA LIMITED 17 Oct 2013
    08738190 A R V TECHNICAL SERVICES (UK) LIMITED 18 Oct 2013
    08741645 E & T BARTLETT LIMITED 21 Oct 2013
    08745496 THE EDIT SHED LTD 23 Oct 2013
    08753604 CHARLES WELLS PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED 29 Oct 2013
    08716017 ESTREK LIMITED 02 Oct 2013
    08719874 COLONEL SYSTEMS LIMITED 07 Oct 2013
    08739358 CGL ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD 18 Oct 2013
    08712173 BARNES QUINN ASSOCIATES LIMITED 01 Oct 2013
    08719549 K W S MOTOR CYCLES LIMITED 07 Oct 2013
    08725387 MR POWER LIMITED 09 Oct 2013
    08726596 A&GD TRANSPORT LIMITED 10 Oct 2013
    08739309 ELLALUAL ENGINEERING LIMITED 18 Oct 2013
    08740873 TRON LTD. 21 Oct 2013
    08744893 DA CARGO TRANSPORT LTD 23 Oct 2013
    08750233 TOWN ADVERTS LTD 28 Oct 2013
    08755071 A R C SPECIALIST LIMITED 30 Oct 2013
    08713695 SPUK (A) LIMITED 01 Oct 2013
    08717316 PHINITE LIMITED 03 Oct 2013
    08733722 HELLIWELL FARMS LIMITED 15 Oct 2013
    08736160 BROADMEAD PROPERTIES LIMITED 17 Oct 2013
    08718335 GIBSON & MAXFIELD LIMITED 04 Oct 2013
    08730458 MIDLANDS CARD AND PARTY (JCT 2) LTD 14 Oct 2013
    08732689 R&T ELECTRICAL LTD 15 Oct 2013