Download PDF version

Belfast, Belfast

2011 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2011 was a record year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast 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 Belfast when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,509 companies were formed in Belfast in 2011. This total is 16.3% higher than in 2010 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 13.1% growth compared to 400,358 the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    20111,509452,870
    20101,298400,358
    2009977362,675
    20081,024349,203
    20071,276457,649
    Record Year2011 (1,509)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The second half of 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 753 companies were formed in Belfast. This figure is 9.3% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 14.0%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Belfast occurred in 2011 when a total of 753 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    2011753224,135
    2010689196,609
    % change9.3%14.0%
    Record Year2011 (753)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 Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 383 companies were registered in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is an increase of 3.8% 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)BelfastUK
    2011383109,623
    201036995,117
    % change3.8%15.3%
    Record Year 2011 (383) 2011 (109,623)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2011134132117
    New companies in 201098142129
    % change36.7%-7.0%-9.3%
    Record Year2003 (138)2010 (142)2010 (129)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 1,028 companies were dissolved in Belfast in 2011. This total is 35.5% lower than in 2010 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    20111,028314,523
    20101,595342,232
    200917533,773
    20086237,901
    20071220,295
    Record Year2010 (1,595)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 497 companies were dissolved in Belfast. This figure is 55.7% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -7.5%.

    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
    2011497152,213
    20101,123164,601
    % change-55.7%-7.5%
    Record Year2010 (1,123)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    A total of 256 companies were dissolved in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is a decrease of 53.7% 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)BelfastUK
    201125679,983
    201055376,896
    % change-53.7%4.0%
    Record Year 2010 (553) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20119263101
    Closed companies in 201038367103
    % change-76.0%-6.0%-2%
    Record Year2010 (383)2010 (67)2010 (103)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 481 companies were added to the company register for Belfast in 2011. This number represents growth of 37.1% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 34.6%.

    This number is 778 companies higher 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
    2011481138,347
    2010-29758,126
    2009960-171,098
    20081,018111,302
    20071,275237,354
    Record Year2007 (1,275)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 the company register for Belfast increased by 256 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    201125671,922
    2010-43432,008
    Record Year2003 (616)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Net company growth for Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011) was 127 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)BelfastUK
    201112729,640
    2010-18418,221
    Record Year 2005 (277) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2011426916
    Net growth in 2010-2857526
    Record Year2009 (70)2005 (105)2009 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2011)

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

    YearBelfast
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 Belfast formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is less than the 2010 figure of 0.4%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Belfast
    20110.3%
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

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

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)Belfast
    20110.3%
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20110.3%0.3%0.4%
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.4%0.5%
    % change18.8%-20.8%-19.6%
    Record Year1985 (2.4%)1968 (1.6%)1967 (1.6%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    The average age of a director in 2011 was 45.0.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.5% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.6% 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 43.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.4% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% 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 43.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.2% 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 Belfast was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Belfast in 2011 was 26.7%. 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 Belfast was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    26.3% of all director appointments in Belfast 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 Belfast was in 1977 when 31.1% of all directors were female.

    25.6% of all director appointments in Belfast 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
    (NI)2.61%CONSULTING5.07%
    MANAGEMENT2.47%MANAGEMENT4.74%
    BELFAST1.40%CONSULTANCY3.26%
    DR.1.30%PROPERTY2.37%
    (N.I.)1.26%TRADING2.07%
    MEDICAL1.12%DESIGN1.92%
    LAGAN1.07%ASSOCIATES1.86%
    TRADING1.07%ENGINEERING1.78%
    ENTERPRISES0.93%BUSINESS1.78%
    CONSULTING0.93%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    IRELAND0.93%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.84%MEDIA1.71%
    CONSULTANCY0.84%LONDON1.63%
    NI0.74%J1.51%
    ELECTRICAL0.65%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    PROPERTY0.65%GLOBAL1.46%
    MAINTENANCE0.61%IT1.41%
    CO0.56%CARE1.39%
    CAPITAL0.56%PROPERTIES1.29%
    CONTRACTS0.56%ELECTRICAL1.29%
    INVESTMENTS0.56%M1.27%
    DESIGN0.51%BUILDING1.26%
    MEDIA0.51%ENERGY1.25%
    ENERGY0.51%S1.20%
    CONSTRUCTION0.51%ENTERPRISES1.20%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied420205,525
    7487 - Other business activities12657,052
    86210 - General medical practice activities972,285
    99999 - Dormant Company8721,846
    9999 - Dormant Company7320,199
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified4832,483
    74990 - Non-trading company458,929
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified3511,768
    98000 - Residents property management302,874
    41100 - Development of building projects304,331
    7415 - Holding companies including head offices281,653
    8512 - Medical practice activities282,224
    35110 - Production of electricity26671
    7414 - Business & management consultancy2513,034
    5530 - Restaurants255,013
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management2417,765
    7499 - Non-trading company249,957
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering245,558
    56101 - Licensed restaurants232,159
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified228,671

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    NI610194 EMOTIVE CONSULTANCY LTD 01 Dec 2011
    NI610229 IVYBROOK ENTERPRISES LIMITED 05 Dec 2011
    NI610278 OWENREAGH III DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED 07 Dec 2011
    NI610281 MOUNT EDEN PROPERTIES LIMITED 07 Dec 2011
    NI610487 C D FAIRFIELD CAPITAL LIMITED 22 Dec 2011
    NI610239 DYNASTY CHINESE TAKE AWAY LTD 05 Dec 2011
    NI610394 GULFSTREAM CONSULTING LIMITED 15 Dec 2011
    NI610437 RAP MENTORS LTD 19 Dec 2011
    NI610438 RAP ACADEMY LTD 19 Dec 2011
    NI610213 MRSUDDS LIMITED 02 Dec 2011
    NI610259 WRIGHT CONTRACTS (NEWTOWNARDS) LIMITED 06 Dec 2011
    NI610441 THAXTON APARTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY NO.4 LIMITED 19 Dec 2011
    NI610262 ROBERT SCATES (HAULAGE) LTD 07 Dec 2011
    NI610429 LANDLEY DEVELOPMENTS LTD 19 Dec 2011
    NI610247 N SHINE CONSULTANTS LIMITED 06 Dec 2011
    NI610288 E ANN DUNN MEDICAL LIMITED 07 Dec 2011
    NI610289 O MCANENA MEDICAL LIMITED 07 Dec 2011
    NI610324 INLAND AND COASTAL MARINA SYSTEMS UK LTD 12 Dec 2011
    NI610372 LISBURN MAINTENANCE SERVICES LIMITED 14 Dec 2011
    NI610500 FREEDOM FINANCIAL PLANNING LTD 22 Dec 2011
    NI610507 MCB & C LTD 23 Dec 2011
    NI610423 MIGHTY SPRITE PRODUCTIONS LTD 19 Dec 2011
    NI610506 ROOF TRUSS SOLUTIONS LIMITED 23 Dec 2011
    NI610221 BRS TAKEAWAY LTD 05 Dec 2011
    NI610340 DANTES FOOD SERVICES LIMITED 12 Dec 2011