Belfast, Belfast

2010 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2010 was a record year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous November.
  • 2010 was a record year for company closures in Belfast when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.
  • The second half of 2010 was a record second half year for company closures in Belfast when compared to any half year in history.
  • Q4 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous October.
  • October 2010 was a record month for company closures in Belfast 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. Annual Data (2010)

    2010 was a record year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,298 companies were formed in Belfast in 2010. This total is 32.9% higher than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 10.4% growth compared to 362,675 the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    20101,298400,358
    2009977362,675
    20081,024349,203
    20071,276457,649
    20061,204405,440
    Record Year2010 (1,298)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 689 companies were formed in Belfast. This figure is 29.0% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 8.8%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Belfast occurred in 2010 when a total of 689 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    2010689196,609
    2009534180,654
    % change29.0%8.8%
    Record Year2010 (689)2003 (201,446)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Q4 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 369 companies were registered in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is an increase of 53.8% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares well 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)BelfastUK
    201036995,117
    200924085,983
    % change53.8%10.6%
    Record Year 2010 (369) 2010 (95,117)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    December 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous December.

    November 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous November.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201098142129
    New companies in 2009718089
    % change38.0%77.5%44.9%
    Record Year2003 (138)2010 (142)2010 (129)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    2010 was a record year for company closures in Belfast when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,595 companies were dissolved in Belfast in 2010. This total is 9,282.4% higher than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 35.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    20101,595342,232
    200917533,773
    20086237,901
    20071220,295
    20061200,166
    Record Year2010 (1,595)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.

    The second half of 2010 was a record second half year for company closures in Belfast when compared to any half year in history.

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 1,123 companies were dissolved in Belfast. This figure is 11,130.0% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -32.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Belfast occurred in 2010 when a total of 1,123 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    20101,123164,601
    200910244,537
    % change11,130.0%-32.7%
    Record Year2010 (1,123)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Q4 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 553 companies were dissolved in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is an increase of 27,550.0% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares poorly 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)BelfastUK
    201055376,896
    2009285,136
    % change27,550.0%-9.7%
    Record Year 2010 (553) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    December 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous December.

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

    October 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous October.

    October 2010 was a record month for company closures in Belfast when compared to any month in history.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 201038367103
    Closed companies in 200911
    % change38,200.0%inf%10,200%
    Record Year2010 (383)2010 (67)2010 (103)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of -297 companies were removed to the company register for Belfast in 2010. This number represents decline of 30.4% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 16.0%.

    This number is 1,257 companies lower than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the Belfast company register grew by 1,275 companies.

    YearBelfastUK
    2010-29758,126
    2009960-171,098
    20081,018111,302
    20071,275237,354
    20061,203205,274
    Record Year2007 (1,275)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 the company register for Belfast decreased by 434 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    2010-43432,008
    2009524-63,883
    Record Year2003 (616)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Net company growth for Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010) was -184 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)BelfastUK
    2010-18418,221
    2009238847
    Record Year 2005 (277) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2010-2857526
    Net growth in 20097088
    Record Year2009 (70)2005 (105)2009 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2010)

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

    YearBelfast
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 Belfast formed 0.4% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2009 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Belfast
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    In the fourth quarter of 2010, Belfast formed 0.4% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)Belfast
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.4%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.4%0.5%
    UK formation share in 20090.2%0.3%0.3%
    % change20.9%58.7%37.9%
    Record Year1985 (2.4%)1968 (1.6%)1967 (1.6%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The average age of a director in 2010 was 44.2.

    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 4.0% 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 44.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 1.8% compared to the UK figure of 2.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.3% 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 45.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 1.0% compared to the UK figure of 3.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.4% 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 Belfast was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Belfast in 2010 was 27.2%. 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 Belfast was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    24.5% of all director appointments in Belfast 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 Belfast was in 1977 when 31.1% of all directors were female.

    22.5% of all director appointments in Belfast 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
    MANAGEMENT2.66%CONSULTING5.06%
    DR.2.61%MANAGEMENT5.01%
    (NI)2.35%CONSULTANCY3.14%
    BELFAST1.20%PROPERTY2.36%
    LAGAN1.15%TRADING2.11%
    TRADING1.10%ASSOCIATES1.95%
    IRELAND1.10%DESIGN1.92%
    CONSULTING1.04%BUSINESS1.82%
    NI1.04%CONSTRUCTION1.82%
    CO0.94%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    PROPERTY0.84%MEDIA1.71%
    ENTERPRISES0.78%ENGINEERING1.62%
    WINDFARM0.73%LONDON1.60%
    M0.73%CARE1.45%
    PROPERTIES0.73%INVESTMENTS1.44%
    DESIGN0.68%GLOBAL1.43%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.63%J1.42%
    (2010)0.63%IT1.41%
    CONSTRUCTION0.63%PROPERTIES1.34%
    PRODUCTIONS0.57%INTERNATIONAL1.34%
    CARE0.57%BUILDING1.34%
    (N.I.)0.57%M1.30%
    NORTHERN0.57%ELECTRICAL1.25%
    PROF.0.52%SYSTEMS1.24%
    MR.0.52%S1.23%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied535199,572
    7487 - Other business activities13563,348
    9999 - Dormant Company8720,144
    99999 - Dormant Company7716,285
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified5327,550
    98000 - Residents property management473,235
    86210 - General medical practice activities321,450
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management2914,505
    74990 - Non-trading company258,243
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified248,799
    41100 - Development of building projects213,765
    9305 - Other service activities208,858
    7414 - Business & management consultancy2013,474
    8512 - Medical practice activities191,687
    68320 - Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis193,097
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply187,298
    7415 - Holding companies including head offices181,851
    62090 - Other information technology service activities176,330
    5530 - Restaurants174,939
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering166,598

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    NI605351 UNITED MOLASSES GB LIMITED 02 Dec 2010
    NI605353 UNITED MOLASSES TRADING LIMITED 02 Dec 2010
    NI605365 ARDLOCKE (NI) LIMITED 03 Dec 2010
    NI605456 DCD TEMPLEPATRICK LIMITED 09 Dec 2010
    NI605461 NL TEMPLEPATRICK LIMITED 09 Dec 2010
    NI605548 CENTURY TV LIMITED 17 Dec 2010
    NI605550 MKB CO NO 33 LIMITED 17 Dec 2010
    NI605553 KJC ESTATES LTD 17 Dec 2010
    NI605386 BUBBLES BANGOR LIMITED 03 Dec 2010
    NI605623 DUBLIN PRINT AND DESIGN LIMITED 29 Dec 2010
    NI605592 RABOTY VENTURES LTD 23 Dec 2010
    NI605373 OROFACIAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IRELAND 03 Dec 2010
    NI605398 PROF. RICHARD COSTELLO 06 Dec 2010
    NI605399 DR. ERIC HEFFERNAN 06 Dec 2010
    NI605409 DR. AFTAB ALAM BALOCH 06 Dec 2010
    NI605412 DR. CLAIRE SMYTH 06 Dec 2010
    NI605413 DR. BRID HOLLYWOOD 06 Dec 2010
    NI605420 PROF. STEPHEN PATCHETT 07 Dec 2010
    NI605569 MULDARTON LIMITED 20 Dec 2010
    NI605573 SHANNONDALE LIMITED 21 Dec 2010
    NI605579 ANNACLONE LIMITED 21 Dec 2010
    NI605332 NOMAD YFC N. IRELAND LTD 01 Dec 2010
    NI605393 PRIMECARE NORTH (BANGOR) LTD 06 Dec 2010
    NI605423 M & F ROBINSON LIMITED 07 Dec 2010
    NI605427 SHOW INC. LIMITED 07 Dec 2010