Bedford, Bedfordshire

2014 Half Year Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • The first half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous first half year.
  • The first half of 2014 was a record first half year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any half year in history.
  • Q2 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q2.
  • Q2 2014 was a record quarter for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any quarter in history.
  • June 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous June.
  • May 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous May.
  • April 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous April.
  • April 2014 was a record month for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any month in history.
  • April 2014 saw a new record in net growth in Bedford when compared to any previous April.
  • April 2014 was a record month for net growth in Bedford when compared to any month in history.

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. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    The first half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous first half year.

    The first half of 2014 was a record first half year for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any half year in history.

    In the first half of 2014 a total of 927 companies were formed in Bedford. This figure is 13.2% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 11.6%.

    The highest total for a first half year in Bedford occurred in 2014 when a total of 927 were formed.

    Half Year (Jan-Jun)BedfordUK
    2014927300,731
    2013819269,432
    % change13.2%11.6%
    Record Year2014 (927)2014 (300,731)
    New Companies by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    Q2 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous Q2.

    Q2 2014 was a record quarter for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any quarter in history.

    A total of 476 companies were registered in Bedford during the second quarter of 2014 (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 22.4% versus the same period last year (Q2 2013). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 11.4% against the same period last year.

    second quarter (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014)BedfordUK
    2014476150,009
    2013389134,630
    % change22.4%11.4%
    Record Year 2014 (476) 2014 (150,009)
    New Companies by Quarter
  3. Monthly Data (Apr, May & Jun 2014)

    June 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous June.

    May 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous May.

    April 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Bedford when compared to any previous April.

    April 2014 was a record month for company registrations in Bedford when compared to any month in history.

    New Companies by Month
    AprilMayJune
    New companies in 2014175149152
    New companies in 2013146133110
    % change19.9%12.0%38.2%
    Record Year2014 (175)2014 (149)2014 (152)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    In the first half of 2014 a total of 505 companies were dissolved in Bedford. This figure is 14.3% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 14.2%.

    The highest total for a first half year in Bedford occurred in 2009 when a total of 716 were closed.

    Half Year (Jan-Jun)BedfordUK
    2014505177,207
    2013442155,192
    % change14.3%14.2%
    Record Year2009 (716)2009 (289,245)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    A total of 278 companies were dissolved in Bedford during the second quarter of 2014 (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 33.7% versus the same period last year (Q2 2013). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 22.7% against the same period last year.

    second quarter (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014)BedfordUK
    201427894,837
    201320877,278
    % change33.7%22.7%
    Record Year 2009 (445) 2009 (181,179)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  3. Monthly Data (Apr, May & Jun 2014)

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    AprilMayJune
    Closed companies in 201457120101
    Closed companies in 2013686377
    % change-16.2%90.5%31%
    Record Year2009 (129)2009 (195)2009 (121)

Net Company Growth

  1. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    In the first half of 2014 the company register for Bedford increased by 422 companies.

    Half Year (Jan-Jun)BedfordUK
    2014422123,524
    2013377114,240
    Record Year2003 (469)2007 (171,296)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    Net company growth for Bedford during the second quarter of 2014 (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014) was 198 companies.

    second quarter (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014)BedfordUK
    201419855,172
    201318157,352
    Record Year 2014 (198) 2007 (60,014)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  3. Monthly Data (Apr, May & Jun 2014)

    April 2014 saw a new record in net growth in Bedford when compared to any previous April.

    April 2014 was a record month for net growth in Bedford when compared to any month in history.

    Net Growth by Month
    AprilMayJune
    Net growth in 20141182951
    Net growth in 2013787033
    Record Year2014 (118)2003 (77)2008 (70)

UK Company Share

  1. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    In the first half of 2014 Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2013 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jan-Jun)Bedford
    20140.3%
    20130.3%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1994 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    In the second quarter of 2014, Bedford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    second quarter (Apr 2014 - Jun 2014)Bedford
    20140.3%
    20130.3%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1991 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  3. Monthly Data (Apr, May & Jun 2014)

    Company Share by Month
    AprilMayJune
    UK formation share in 20140.3%0.3%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20130.3%0.3%0.3%
    % change8.1%3.4%19.7%
    Record Year1978 (0.5%)1987 (0.6%)1992 (0.3%)

Director Age

  1. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    The average age of a director in the first half of 2014 was 43.5.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.4% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.5% compared to the UK figure of 3.5%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    The average age of a director in the second quarter of 2014 was 42.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.9%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.9% compared to the UK figure of 3.6%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Half Year Data (Jan-Jun 2014)

    The record first half year for female directors in Bedford was 2005 when 34.2% of all directors were female.

    29.4% of all director appointments in Bedford in the first half of 2014 were female. This compares to a UK average of 26.1% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  2. Quarterly Data (Q2 Apr-Jun 2014)

    The record second quarter for female directors in Bedford was in 2005 when 36.1% of all directors were female.

    30.7% of all director appointments in Bedford in the second quarter of 2014 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.9% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Jun 2013-Jun 2014)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTANCY1.57%CONSULTING5.16%
    CONSULTING1.49%MANAGEMENT4.64%
    PROPERTY1.33%CONSULTANCY3.50%
    MANAGEMENT1.20%PROPERTY2.66%
    BEDFORD1.16%TRADING2.03%
    CARE0.99%ENGINEERING1.99%
    CONSULTANTS0.91%CONSTRUCTION1.93%
    J0.62%LONDON1.93%
    ENGINEERING0.58%CARE1.85%
    BUILDING0.54%DESIGN1.75%
    HEALTHCARE0.54%CONSULTANTS1.73%
    TRANSPORT0.54%BUSINESS1.69%
    C0.54%PROPERTIES1.63%
    S0.54%TRANSPORT1.58%
    ASSOCIATES0.54%GLOBAL1.55%
    RV0.54%INVESTMENTS1.55%
    BUSINESS0.50%J1.51%
    R0.50%ASSOCIATES1.48%
    M0.50%MEDIA1.44%
    ELECTRICAL0.46%ELECTRICAL1.40%
    INVESTMENTS0.46%IT1.33%
    SECURITY0.46%DEVELOPMENTS1.33%
    IT0.41%BUILDING1.26%
    TRADING0.41%M1.24%
    PROPERTIES0.41%CO.,1.20%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied634261,557
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management15740,250
    99999 - Dormant Company15048,436
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified9657,421
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities9529,029
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified7828,352
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified6519,058
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4713,024
    86900 - Other human health activities4611,292
    41100 - Development of building projects4110,527
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified358,533
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet359,900
    49410 - Freight transport by road349,265
    45200 - Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles345,375
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing315,855
    56101 - Licensed restaurants308,585
    96020 - Hairdressing and other beauty treatment306,631
    62012 - Business and domestic software development289,834
    47990 - Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets276,286
    41202 - Construction of domestic buildings247,053

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    09022468 BRIM EAST HOLDINGS LTD 02 May 2014
    09023929 CAT FARROW WRITING LIMITED 06 May 2014
    09028631 ANDREW CUSHEN CONSULTING LIMITED 07 May 2014
    09037103 ULTIMATE PROJECT FINISHES LTD 13 May 2014
    09038079 HAPPY NUMBERS LIMITED 13 May 2014
    09042695 ASSURE CONSULTING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED 15 May 2014
    09043087 DAVID SAYER CONSULTING LTD 16 May 2014
    09045029 OPTIMUM ALLDRIVE LTD 16 May 2014
    09048037 EVENTBOOST.CO.UK LTD 20 May 2014
    09051112 NNSV CARE SERVICES LTD 21 May 2014
    09052268 MIDLAND CAFE LIMITED 22 May 2014
    09052536 UK ACADEMICS AND GUARDIANSHIP LTD 22 May 2014
    09059240 GROWTH MASTER LIMITED 28 May 2014
    09026396 BABYTOBREAST LIMITED 06 May 2014
    09029527 UNDERFLOAT LTD 08 May 2014
    09039354 PARAMOUNT BUILDING MAINTENANCE LIMITED 14 May 2014
    09041195 KAVANAGH BROTHERS LIMITED 15 May 2014
    09054943 HURST TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED 23 May 2014
    09060524 CYBERMETRIX (UK) LIMITED 28 May 2014
    09031846 AS NETWORK SOLUTIONS LTD 09 May 2014
    09033815 JM CARE SOLUTIONS LTD 12 May 2014
    09037130 GSS SOLUTIONS LIMITED 13 May 2014
    09045788 CABSTAR TAXI LTD 19 May 2014
    09048402 GORGEOUS GOODIES LTD 20 May 2014
    09032591 CLAIRE DAVIS CONSULTANTS LIMITED 09 May 2014