Greater London

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

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

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 Greater London when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 142,179 companies were formed in Greater London in 2012. This total is 10.8% higher than in 2011 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearGreater LondonUK
    2012142,179491,893
    2011128,310452,870
    2010110,798400,358
    200995,602362,675
    200888,651349,203
    Record Year2012 (142,179)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 Greater London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 70,017 companies were formed in Greater London. This figure is 8.8% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Greater London occurred in 2012 when a total of 70,017 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Greater LondonUK
    201270,017238,743
    201164,341224,135
    % change8.8%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (70,017)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 Greater London when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 35,626 companies were registered in Greater London during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 10.7% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares equally 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)Greater LondonUK
    201235,626119,875
    201132,186109,623
    % change10.7%9.4%
    Record Year 2012 (35,626) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in Greater London when compared to any previous December.

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

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

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201213,31612,8129,498
    New companies in 201111,22611,8639,097
    % change18.6%8.0%4.4%
    Record Year2012 (13,316)2012 (12,812)2012 (9,498)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 79,407 companies were dissolved in Greater London in 2012. This total is 9.4% lower than in 2011 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearGreater LondonUK
    201279,407293,728
    201187,599314,524
    201085,797342,233
    2009132,493533,787
    200859,210237,873
    Record Year2009 (132,493)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 39,015 companies were dissolved in Greater London. This figure is 4.6% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Greater London occurred in 2009 when a total of 54,355 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Greater LondonUK
    201239,015145,934
    201140,914152,213
    % change-4.6%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (54,355)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 18,914 companies were dissolved in Greater London during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 11.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares poorly 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)Greater LondonUK
    201218,91470,026
    201121,47379,983
    % change-11.9%-12.4%
    Record Year 2009 (22,477) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in Greater London when compared to any previous October.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20128,9945,6844,236
    Closed companies in 20115,1758,5337,765
    % change73.8%-33.4%-45%
    Record Year2012 (8,994)2011 (8,533)2009 (8,034)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    2012 was a record year for net growth in Greater London when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 62,772 companies were added to the company register for Greater London in 2012. This number represents growth of 48.9% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 22,061 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2012 when the Greater London company register grew by 62,772 companies.

    YearGreater LondonUK
    201262,772198,165
    201140,711138,346
    201025,00158,125
    2009-36,891-171,112
    200829,441111,330
    Record Year2012 (62,772)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    The second half of 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Greater London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Greater London increased by 31,002 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Greater LondonUK
    201231,00292,809
    201123,42771,922
    Record Year2012 (31,002)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Q4 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Greater London when compared to any previous Q4.

    Net company growth for Greater London during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 16,712 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Greater LondonUK
    201216,71249,849
    201110,71329,640
    Record Year 2012 (16,712) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Greater London when compared to any previous December.

    November 2012 saw a new record in net growth in Greater London when compared to any previous November.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20124,3227,1285,262
    Net growth in 20116,0513,3301,332
    Record Year2011 (6,051)2012 (7,128)2012 (5,262)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Greater London formed 28.9% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2011 when Greater London was responsible for 28.3% of all UK companies.

    YearGreater London
    201228.9%
    201128.3%
    201027.7%
    200926.4%
    200825.4%
    Record Year (since 1960)1998 (30.5%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 Greater London formed 29.3% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2011 figure of 28.7%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Greater London
    201229.3%
    201128.7%
    201028.4%
    200926.9%
    200825.7%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (30.6%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, Greater London formed 29.7% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Greater London
    201229.7%
    201129.4%
    201029.3%
    200927.4%
    200825.9%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (30.6%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 201228.9%30.2%30.2%
    UK formation share in 201129.0%29.4%29.7%
    % change-0.3%2.8%1.6%
    Record Year1998 (31.8%)1999 (31.1%)2010 (31.0%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 41.2.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.5% 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 40.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.6% 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 40.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.6% 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 Greater London was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Greater London in 2012 was 21.9%. 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 Greater London was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    23.7% of all director appointments in Greater London 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 Greater London was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    23.8% of all director appointments in Greater London 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
    CONSULTING3.88%CONSULTING5.15%
    MANAGEMENT2.87%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    LONDON2.83%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    TRADING1.96%PROPERTY2.40%
    CONSULTANCY1.91%TRADING2.03%
    GLOBAL1.72%DESIGN1.86%
    MEDIA1.49%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    CAPITAL1.46%ENGINEERING1.79%
    PROPERTY1.44%BUSINESS1.76%
    INVESTMENTS1.34%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    INTERNATIONAL1.30%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    CO.,1.28%LONDON1.69%
    BUSINESS1.27%MEDIA1.69%
    CONSULTANTS1.21%GLOBAL1.59%
    DESIGN1.09%J1.57%
    ASSOCIATES1.04%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    PRODUCTIONS1.02%IT1.43%
    CONSTRUCTION1.01%CARE1.39%
    IT0.98%PROPERTIES1.34%
    PARTNERS0.92%M1.26%
    PROPERTIES0.89%BUILDING1.23%
    ENTERPRISES0.87%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    SECURITY0.82%TRAINING1.18%
    GROUP0.77%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    CO0.76%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied78,920236,139
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified17,64052,427
    99999 - Dormant Company15,08740,648
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management7,48530,396
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified7,00322,058
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities6,47823,256
    74990 - Non-trading company3,99713,808
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3,70715,572
    62090 - Other information technology service activities3,55012,291
    7487 - Other business activities3,48510,703
    62012 - Business and domestic software development2,2177,446
    41100 - Development of building projects1,9977,980
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate1,8896,971
    86900 - Other human health activities1,8247,866
    56101 - Licensed restaurants1,8156,400
    9999 - Dormant Company1,8004,599
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities1,7776,177
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified1,6704,537
    68100 - Buying and selling of own real estate1,6104,752
    68320 - Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis1,4644,936

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08278657 BUSY BEE PR LTD 02 Nov 2012
    08279147 MKR VENTURE LTD 02 Nov 2012
    08279825 B&S MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY LTD 05 Nov 2012
    08280000 FASHION CAFE LTD 05 Nov 2012
    08280835 GLOBAL EUROPE TRADES SERVICES LIMITED 05 Nov 2012
    08281648 MODERNEYE STUDIO LTD 05 Nov 2012
    08281756 ASHLEE LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08282946 HELP FOR CHANGE 06 Nov 2012
    08284884 RED GINGER LTD 07 Nov 2012
    08285533 ORIGINAL BODYWORKS LTD 08 Nov 2012
    08286921 METROPOLITAN COLLEGE LIMITED 08 Nov 2012
    08286989 STUDY PATH LTD 08 Nov 2012
    08287157 BESTFOOD CASH & CARRY(LONDON) LTD 08 Nov 2012
    08287269 LONDON COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE LIMITED 09 Nov 2012
    08287275 CAMBRIDGE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & IT LIMITED 09 Nov 2012
    08288371 INFOKIA SYSTEM SOLUTIONS LTD 09 Nov 2012
    08288546 SMH SUSSEX LIMITED 09 Nov 2012
    OC380152 GOLD TRAVELLERS LLP 12 Nov 2012
    08290847 APARTMENT 24 TEXTILE BUILDING LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08291242 GREEN LEAF CONSULTING (UK) LTD 13 Nov 2012
    08291544 PROPERTY FINDER (UK) LIMITED 13 Nov 2012
    08292143 KHAN ASSOCIATES (UK) LIMITED 13 Nov 2012
    08292424 DIRECT SOLUTIONS (LONDON) LTD 13 Nov 2012
    08292679 QUEST SOLUTIONS CONSULTING LTD 14 Nov 2012
    08292895 ALDERBRANCH LIMITED 14 Nov 2012