Hertford, Hertfordshire

2014 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2014 was a record year for company registrations in Hertford when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Hertford when compared to any previous second half year.
  • December 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Hertford 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)

    2014 was a record year for company registrations in Hertford when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 458 companies were formed in Hertford in 2014. This total is 4.1% higher than in 2013 and compares poorly to the UK figure of a 10.0% growth compared to 529,363 the previous year.

    YearHertfordUK
    2014458582,051
    2013440529,363
    2012404491,893
    2011413452,870
    2010369400,358
    Record Year2014 (458)2014 (582,051)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The second half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in Hertford when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 218 companies were formed in Hertford. This figure is 3.3% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.2%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Hertford occurred in 2014 when a total of 218 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HertfordUK
    2014218281,320
    2013211259,931
    % change3.3%8.2%
    Record Year2014 (218)2014 (281,320)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 95 companies were registered in Hertford during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 6.7% 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)HertfordUK
    201495137,906
    201389127,247
    % change6.7%8.4%
    Record Year 2011 (101) 2014 (137,906)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2014413420
    New companies in 2013274517
    % change51.9%-24.4%17.6%
    Record Year2011 (42)2013 (45)2009 (42)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 295 companies were dissolved in Hertford in 2014. This total is 4.8% lower than in 2013 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 10.8% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearHertfordUK
    2014295367,937
    2013310332,213
    2012256293,729
    2011290314,524
    2010300342,233
    Record Year2009 (384)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 150 companies were dissolved in Hertford. This figure is 9.6% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of 7.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Hertford occurred in 2009 when a total of 169 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HertfordUK
    2014150190,730
    2013166177,021
    % change-9.6%7.7%
    Record Year2009 (169)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 72 companies were dissolved in Hertford during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is a decrease of 12.2% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares well 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)HertfordUK
    20147289,060
    20138290,851
    % change-12.2%-2.0%
    Record Year 2013 (82) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2014192132
    Closed companies in 2013273322
    % change-29.6%-36.4%45%
    Record Year2012 (30)2013 (33)2014 (32)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 163 companies were added to the company register for Hertford in 2014. This number represents growth of 35.6% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 36.8%.

    This number is 33 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the Hertford company register grew by 181 companies.

    YearHertfordUK
    2014163214,114
    2013130197,150
    2012148198,164
    2011123138,346
    20106958,125
    Record Year2007 (181)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 the company register for Hertford increased by 68 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HertfordUK
    20146890,590
    20134582,910
    Record Year2003 (122)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Net company growth for Hertford during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014) was 23 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)HertfordUK
    20142348,846
    2013736,396
    Record Year 2006 (39) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20142213-12
    Net growth in 2013012-5
    Record Year2003 (26)2003 (28)2003 (19)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    In 2014 Hertford formed 0.1% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2013 when Hertford was responsible for 0.1% of all UK companies.

    YearHertford
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960)1996 (0.1%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 Hertford formed 0.1% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2013 figure of 0.1%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Hertford
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1996 (0.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    In the fourth quarter of 2014, Hertford formed 0.1% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)Hertford
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1990 (0.1%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20140.1%0.1%0.0%
    UK formation share in 20130.1%0.1%0.0%
    % change44.4%-28.3%0.6%
    Record Year1971 (0.2%)1990 (0.2%)1987 (0.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The average age of a director in 2014 was 44.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.2% 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 45.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.1% 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 44.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 6.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.7% 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 Hertford was 1984 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Hertford in 2014 was 28.7%. 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 Hertford was 2006 when 34.2% of all directors were female.

    28.1% of all director appointments in Hertford 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 Hertford was in 2012 when 37.5% of all directors were female.

    29.3% of all director appointments in Hertford 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
    CONSULTING2.04%CONSULTING5.22%
    MANAGEMENT1.68%MANAGEMENT4.58%
    HERTFORD1.32%CONSULTANCY3.57%
    LONDON1.08%PROPERTY2.66%
    J0.84%CONSTRUCTION2.12%
    ELECTRICAL0.84%ENGINEERING2.10%
    CREATIVE0.72%CARE2.02%
    ASSOCIATES0.72%TRADING1.94%
    CONSULTANCY0.72%LONDON1.93%
    DESIGN0.72%TRANSPORT1.93%
    PROPERTY0.72%DESIGN1.66%
    PROPERTIES0.72%CONSULTANTS1.64%
    PROPS0.60%ELECTRICAL1.62%
    INVESTMENTS0.60%PROPERTIES1.62%
    DIGITAL0.60%BUSINESS1.56%
    ROOFING0.48%J1.54%
    ROAD0.48%CO.,1.50%
    SPECIALISTS0.48%GLOBAL1.49%
    R0.48%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    GROUP0.48%ASSOCIATES1.47%
    CONSTRUCTION0.48%DEVELOPMENTS1.35%
    CONTRACTORS0.48%MEDIA1.33%
    NORTH0.48%IT1.31%
    EVENTS0.36%BUILDING1.29%
    C0.36%M1.22%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied133265,608
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified9558,068
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management5942,290
    99999 - Dormant Company3148,509
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities2630,178
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified2519,049
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified2129,009
    62090 - Other information technology service activities1412,837
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing125,931
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet1110,107
    41100 - Development of building projects1111,397
    74990 - Non-trading company1113,984
    93199 - Other sports activities104,176
    47710 - Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores93,359
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified88,761
    68320 - Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis86,010
    86900 - Other human health activities812,976
    43210 - Electrical installation85,985
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities87,528
    56101 - Licensed restaurants78,782

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    09333671 JTCLS LIMITED 01 Dec 2014
    09334373 SOLO VOI LTD 01 Dec 2014
    09339241 JON DURBIN ASSOCIATES LIMITED 03 Dec 2014
    09340022 VIRSTOR LTD 03 Dec 2014
    09346099 GRAY CHAUFFEUR SERVICES LIMITED 08 Dec 2014
    OC397106 STREAK LLP 15 Dec 2014
    09367999 ZACCHEAUS PLATFORMS LTD 29 Dec 2014
    09368701 TACKLEMAN LIMITED 29 Dec 2014
    09338268 J COOK LANDSCAPES LIMITED 03 Dec 2014
    09343019 MANDELA'S GUN UK LIMITED 05 Dec 2014
    09343666 BLUE LILY ACCOUNTANCY LIMITED 05 Dec 2014
    09345864 QUBIX SOLUTIONS LIMITED 08 Dec 2014
    09346781 CMD INSIGHT UK LIMITED 09 Dec 2014
    09357417 MADA SURVEYING SERVICES LIMITED 16 Dec 2014
    09360210 HALCYON DIRECT MARKETING LTD 18 Dec 2014
    09360453 DL GRAPHICS CREATIVE LIMITED 18 Dec 2014
    09360493 NICOLA MELLOWS DESIGN CONSULTANCY LIMITED 18 Dec 2014
    09360686 ENTERPRISE LETTINGS LIMITED 18 Dec 2014
    09362109 ROTHSCHILD & BICKERS PARTS LIMITED 19 Dec 2014
    09366810 CALTON 1964 LIMITED 24 Dec 2014