Chester, Cheshire

2014 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • Q4 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Chester when compared to any previous Q4.
  • November 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Chester when compared to any previous November.
  • December 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Chester when compared to any previous December.

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 (2014)

    A total of 1,406 companies were formed in Chester in 2014. This total is 9.2% higher than in 2013 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 10.0% growth compared to 529,363 the previous year.

    YearChesterUK
    20141,406582,051
    20131,288529,363
    20121,077491,893
    2011898452,870
    2010785400,358
    Record Year2007 (3,900)2014 (582,051)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 634 companies were formed in Chester. This figure is 4.4% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.2%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Chester occurred in 2006 when a total of 678 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)ChesterUK
    2014634281,320
    2013607259,931
    % change4.4%8.2%
    Record Year2006 (678)2014 (281,320)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Q4 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Chester when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 303 companies were registered in Chester during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 12.6% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 8.4% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)ChesterUK
    2014303137,906
    2013269127,247
    % change12.6%8.4%
    Record Year 2014 (303) 2014 (137,906)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    November 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Chester when compared to any previous November.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201411510781
    New companies in 201311910248
    % change-3.4%4.9%68.8%
    Record Year2013 (119)2014 (107)2006 (107)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 925 companies were dissolved in Chester in 2014. This total is 16.6% higher than in 2013 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 10.8% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearChesterUK
    2014925367,937
    2013793332,213
    2012665293,729
    2011733314,524
    2010692342,233
    Record Year2009 (2,916)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 502 companies were dissolved in Chester. This figure is 11.1% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 7.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Chester occurred in 2008 when a total of 1,573 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)ChesterUK
    2014502190,730
    2013452177,021
    % change11.1%7.7%
    Record Year2008 (1,573)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 238 companies were dissolved in Chester during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 8.7% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 2.0% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)ChesterUK
    201423889,060
    201321990,851
    % change8.7%-2.0%
    Record Year 2009 (268) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    December 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Chester when compared to any previous December.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20146960109
    Closed companies in 2013916761
    % change-24.2%-10.4%79%
    Record Year2009 (157)2011 (83)2014 (109)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 481 companies were added to the company register for Chester in 2014. This number represents growth of 34.2% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 36.8%.

    This number is 14 companies lower than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the Chester company register grew by 3,540 companies.

    YearChesterUK
    2014481214,114
    2013495197,150
    2012412198,164
    2011165138,346
    20109358,125
    Record Year2007 (3,540)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 the company register for Chester increased by 132 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)ChesterUK
    201413290,590
    201315582,910
    Record Year2006 (520)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Net company growth for Chester during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014) was 65 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)ChesterUK
    20146548,846
    20135036,396
    Record Year 2006 (221) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20144647-28
    Net growth in 20132835-13
    Record Year2005 (59)2006 (83)2006 (84)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    In 2014 Chester formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2013 when Chester was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearChester
    20140.2%
    20130.2%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)2007 (0.9%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 Chester formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2013 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Chester
    20140.2%
    20130.2%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 2006 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    In the fourth quarter of 2014, Chester formed 0.2% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)Chester
    20140.2%
    20130.2%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 2006 (0.3%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20140.2%0.2%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20130.2%0.2%0.1%
    % change-8.1%-0.4%44.5%
    Record Year1993 (0.4%)2006 (0.3%)2006 (0.4%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The average age of a director in 2014 was 44.6.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2014 was 44.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.4% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 44.0.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.1% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The record year for female directors in Chester was 1972 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Chester in 2014 was 25.8%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.1%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The record second half year for female directors in Chester was 2006 when 31.5% of all directors were female.

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

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in Chester was in 2005 when 33.4% of all directors were female.

    23.8% of all director appointments in Chester in the fourth quarter of 2014 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.8% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

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

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    MANAGEMENT2.68%CONSULTING5.22%
    ENGINEERING1.78%MANAGEMENT4.58%
    CONSULTING1.69%CONSULTANCY3.57%
    CONSTRUCTION1.36%PROPERTY2.66%
    CHESTER1.27%CONSTRUCTION2.12%
    PROPERTY1.27%ENGINEERING2.10%
    CONSULTANCY1.08%CARE2.02%
    S0.80%TRADING1.94%
    FINANCIAL0.80%LONDON1.93%
    ELECTRICAL0.75%TRANSPORT1.93%
    M0.70%DESIGN1.66%
    ENERGY0.66%CONSULTANTS1.64%
    CONSULTANTS0.61%ELECTRICAL1.62%
    (CHESTER)0.61%PROPERTIES1.62%
    PROJECT0.61%BUSINESS1.56%
    ASSOCIATES0.56%J1.54%
    R0.56%CO.,1.50%
    C0.56%GLOBAL1.49%
    MEDIA0.56%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    J0.56%ASSOCIATES1.47%
    CONTRACTING0.56%DEVELOPMENTS1.35%
    D0.52%MEDIA1.33%
    DESIGN0.52%IT1.31%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.52%BUILDING1.29%
    CHESHIRE0.52%M1.22%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied533265,608
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management16642,290
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified12858,068
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified8919,049
    99999 - Dormant Company8248,509
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities7630,178
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified5629,009
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified276,083
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet2610,107
    41100 - Development of building projects2611,397
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified268,761
    62090 - Other information technology service activities2512,837
    62012 - Business and domestic software development249,752
    69102 - Solicitors222,677
    49410 - Freight transport by road2210,842
    70221 - Financial management213,608
    47990 - Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets216,452
    56302 - Public houses and bars216,285
    74990 - Non-trading company2113,984
    96020 - Hairdressing and other beauty treatment206,742

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    09335789 A & M DAVIES LTD 01 Dec 2014
    09337526 TIBAH TRADING LIMITED 02 Dec 2014
    09338799 GREGOR TRANS LTD. 03 Dec 2014
    09339947 STROMAR LTD. 03 Dec 2014
    09346266 SMILES BY DESIGN LIMITED 08 Dec 2014
    09348385 RUTH RANDALL LIMITED 10 Dec 2014
    09352032 ESRG LAND MIDLANDS LIMITED 12 Dec 2014
    09354169 CH1 LIMITED 15 Dec 2014
    09358149 BAM ENGINEERS LTD 17 Dec 2014
    09360537 LAWSHEL LIMITED 18 Dec 2014
    09361833 VERIFY ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITED 19 Dec 2014
    09364063 STEVE WESTGARTH PROPERTY LTD 22 Dec 2014
    09366532 ECO DESIGN SOLUTIONS LTD 24 Dec 2014
    09369896 MEREDITH CHARLES LTD 30 Dec 2014
    09334415 BERDON ROBERTSON LTD 01 Dec 2014
    09365012 IGOE GROUP LTD 22 Dec 2014
    09360311 JON RYDER LIMITED 18 Dec 2014
    09333934 MY BUSINESS HQ LIMITED 01 Dec 2014
    09345058 THE WOOF WASH LIMITED 08 Dec 2014
    09348557 CARDIN ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD 10 Dec 2014
    09364486 ROSE BUSINESS SERVICES LTD 22 Dec 2014
    09367736 COLLOQUIUM SEMINAR SERVICES LTD 29 Dec 2014
    09370513 BENJAMIN HOWE LTD 31 Dec 2014
    09347998 QUANTUM SAFETY CONSULTING LTD 09 Dec 2014
    09361121 ADVANCED CABLE SERVICES LIMITED 18 Dec 2014