Belfast, Belfast

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2012 was a record year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.
  • The second half of 2012 was a record second half year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any half year in history.
  • Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.
  • Q4 2012 was a record quarter for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any quarter in history.
  • November 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous October.
  • October 2012 was a record month for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any month in history.
  • November 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Belfast 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 Belfast when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 1,782 companies were formed in Belfast in 2012. This total is 18.1% higher than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    20121,782491,893
    20111,509452,870
    20101,298400,358
    2009977362,675
    20081,024349,203
    Record Year2012 (1,782)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 Belfast when compared to any previous second half year.

    The second half of 2012 was a record second half year for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any half year in history.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 894 companies were formed in Belfast. This figure is 18.7% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Belfast occurred in 2012 when a total of 894 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    2012894238,743
    2011753224,135
    % change18.7%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (894)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 Belfast when compared to any previous Q4.

    Q4 2012 was a record quarter for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any quarter in history.

    A total of 484 companies were registered in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 26.4% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares well 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)BelfastUK
    2012484119,875
    2011383109,623
    % change26.4%9.4%
    Record Year 2012 (484) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    November 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Belfast when compared to any previous November.

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

    October 2012 was a record month for company registrations in Belfast when compared to any month in history.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2012185172127
    New companies in 2011134132117
    % change38.1%30.3%8.5%
    Record Year2012 (185)2012 (172)2010 (129)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 980 companies were dissolved in Belfast in 2012. This total is 4.7% lower than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearBelfastUK
    2012980293,728
    20111,028314,524
    20101,595342,233
    200917533,787
    20086237,873
    Record Year2010 (1,595)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 473 companies were dissolved in Belfast. This figure is 4.8% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    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
    2012473145,934
    2011497152,213
    % change-4.8%-4.1%
    Record Year2010 (1,123)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 223 companies were dissolved in Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 12.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares well 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)BelfastUK
    201222370,026
    201125679,983
    % change-12.9%-12.4%
    Record Year 2010 (553) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    November 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Belfast when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2012738169
    Closed companies in 20119263101
    % change-20.7%28.6%-32%
    Record Year2010 (383)2012 (81)2010 (103)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 802 companies were added to the company register for Belfast in 2012. This number represents growth of 53.1% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 321 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
    2012802198,165
    2011481138,346
    2010-29758,125
    2009960-171,112
    20081,018111,330
    Record Year2007 (1,275)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Belfast increased by 421 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)BelfastUK
    201242192,809
    201125671,922
    Record Year2003 (616)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for Belfast during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 261 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)BelfastUK
    201226149,849
    201112729,640
    Record Year 2005 (277) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    October 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Belfast when compared to any previous October.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20121129158
    Net growth in 2011426916
    Record Year2012 (112)2005 (105)2009 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Belfast formed 0.4% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2011 when Belfast was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearBelfast
    20120.4%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 Belfast formed 0.4% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2011 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Belfast
    20120.4%
    20110.3%
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, Belfast formed 0.4% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Belfast
    20120.4%
    20110.3%
    20100.4%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (1.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.4%0.4%0.4%
    UK formation share in 20110.3%0.3%0.4%
    % change16.0%24.0%5.6%
    Record Year1985 (2.4%)1968 (1.6%)1967 (1.6%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 44.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.1% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.2% 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 44.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.1% 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 44.5.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.9% 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 Belfast was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Belfast in 2012 was 27.9%. 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 Belfast was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    22.9% of all director appointments in Belfast 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 Belfast was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    24.3% of all director appointments in Belfast 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
    (NI)3.91%CONSULTING5.15%
    MANAGEMENT2.43%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    BELFAST2.03%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    CONSULTING1.20%PROPERTY2.40%
    IRELAND1.16%TRADING2.03%
    MEDICAL1.08%DESIGN1.86%
    (N.I.)1.04%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    TRADING1.00%ENGINEERING1.79%
    PROPERTY0.96%BUSINESS1.76%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.88%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    PROPERTIES0.84%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    ENERGY0.76%LONDON1.69%
    DR0.72%MEDIA1.69%
    ENTERPRISES0.72%GLOBAL1.59%
    INVESTMENTS0.72%J1.57%
    DR.0.68%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    NI0.68%IT1.43%
    TECHNOLOGIES0.60%CARE1.39%
    CENTRE0.60%PROPERTIES1.34%
    CONSTRUCTION0.56%M1.26%
    CO0.56%BUILDING1.23%
    TRUSTEES0.52%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    JCA0.48%TRAINING1.18%
    BUSINESS0.48%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    CONSULTANCY0.48%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied555236,139
    99999 - Dormant Company18540,648
    86210 - General medical practice activities1703,960
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified7152,427
    74990 - Non-trading company7013,808
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified6722,058
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management4830,396
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities4823,256
    41100 - Development of building projects477,980
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified4315,572
    98000 - Residents property management384,377
    35110 - Production of electricity341,611
    86900 - Other human health activities347,866
    56101 - Licensed restaurants336,400
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate316,971
    68320 - Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis284,936
    86230 - Dental practice activities272,378
    62012 - Business and domestic software development267,446
    56302 - Public houses and bars264,543
    56103 - Take-away food shops and mobile food stands265,132

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    NI615771 OAKDENE ENTERPRISES LIMITED 03 Dec 2012
    NI615774 CASTLEBANE LIMITED 03 Dec 2012
    NI615788 GNJ LTD 04 Dec 2012
    NI615879 WEBB AND CO (NI) LIMITED 10 Dec 2012
    NI615891 ANNS2 LIMITED 11 Dec 2012
    NI615943 MAC CONCEPT LTD 13 Dec 2012
    NI615992 ROONEYS GYM BELFAST LTD 17 Dec 2012
    NI616035 HAWTHORNE CONSULTING (NI) LIMITED 19 Dec 2012
    NI615780 BLACKCUBE (PORTOBELLO ST) LIMITED 03 Dec 2012
    NI615924 RKP CATERING LIMITED 12 Dec 2012
    NI615994 CLOUD 9 TECH LIMITED 17 Dec 2012
    NI615989 COXDOME DAYLIGHT PRODUCTS LTD 17 Dec 2012
    NI615855 TALTUS MEDIA PARTNERS LIMITED 07 Dec 2012
    NI616009 RUMBLE VENTURES LTD 18 Dec 2012
    NI615885 PHIL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED 10 Dec 2012
    NI615911 DR. SAUD KHAWAR BAJWA 12 Dec 2012
    NI615919 MR RICHARD HANSON 12 Dec 2012
    NI615932 KEITH HANNA FINANCIAL PLANNERS LTD 13 Dec 2012
    NI616017 HENDERSON'S NORTH ST LIMITED 18 Dec 2012
    NI616020 BALLYWILLIN LIMITED 18 Dec 2012
    NI616021 HALEY VEHICLE MOVEMENTS LTD 18 Dec 2012
    NI616026 MULKEERAGH LIMITED 19 Dec 2012
    NI616048 PREMIER STUDENT PROPERTY LTD 20 Dec 2012
    NI616071 KIERNAN MILLING (NI) LIMITED 21 Dec 2012
    NI616109 LYSANDER CONSORTIUM LIMITED 31 Dec 2012