Hitchin, Hertfordshire

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

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

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 Hitchin when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 673 companies were formed in Hitchin in 2012. This total is 15.4% higher than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearHitchinUK
    2012673491,893
    2011583452,870
    2010469400,358
    2009369362,675
    2008430349,203
    Record Year2012 (673)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 Hitchin when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 315 companies were formed in Hitchin. This figure is 2.3% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Hitchin occurred in 2012 when a total of 315 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HitchinUK
    2012315238,743
    2011308224,135
    % change2.3%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (315)2012 (238,743)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 136 companies were registered in Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 22.7% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares badly 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)HitchinUK
    2012136119,875
    2011176109,623
    % change-22.7%9.4%
    Record Year 2011 (176) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2012713827
    New companies in 2011495572
    % change44.9%-30.9%-62.5%
    Record Year2012 (71)2011 (55)2011 (72)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 308 companies were dissolved in Hitchin in 2012. This total is 4.0% lower than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearHitchinUK
    2012308293,728
    2011321314,524
    2010325342,233
    2009483533,787
    2008227237,873
    Record Year2009 (483)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 143 companies were dissolved in Hitchin. This figure is 5.9% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Hitchin occurred in 2009 when a total of 212 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HitchinUK
    2012143145,934
    2011152152,213
    % change-5.9%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (212)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 80 companies were dissolved in Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 3.9% 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)HitchinUK
    20128070,026
    20117779,983
    % change3.9%-12.4%
    Record Year 2006 (80) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2012392714
    Closed companies in 2011213422
    % change85.7%-20.6%-36%
    Record Year2012 (39)2011 (34)2009 (33)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

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

    A total of 365 companies were added to the company register for Hitchin in 2012. This number represents growth of 62.6% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 103 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2012 when the Hitchin company register grew by 365 companies.

    YearHitchinUK
    2012365198,165
    2011262138,346
    201014458,125
    2009-114-171,112
    2008203111,330
    Record Year2012 (365)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 Hitchin when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Hitchin increased by 172 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HitchinUK
    201217292,809
    201115671,922
    Record Year2012 (172)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 56 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)HitchinUK
    20125649,849
    20119929,640
    Record Year 2011 (99) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2012321113
    Net growth in 2011282150
    Record Year2002 (36)2011 (21)2011 (50)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Hitchin formed 0.1% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2011 when Hitchin was responsible for 0.1% of all UK companies.

    YearHitchin
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    20090.1%
    20080.1%
    Record Year (since 1960)1974 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 Hitchin formed 0.1% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2011 figure of 0.1%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Hitchin
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    20090.1%
    20080.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1976 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, Hitchin formed 0.1% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Hitchin
    20120.1%
    20110.2%
    20100.1%
    20090.1%
    20080.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1968 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.2%0.1%0.1%
    UK formation share in 20110.1%0.1%0.2%
    % change21.7%-34.2%-63.5%
    Record Year1975 (0.4%)1963 (0.3%)1964 (0.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 45.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.6% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 6.6% 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 44.0.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.3% 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 44.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 0.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.6% 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 Hitchin was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Hitchin in 2012 was 29.9%. 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 Hitchin was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    30.9% of all director appointments in Hitchin 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 Hitchin was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    30.4% of all director appointments in Hitchin 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
    CONSULTING1.75%CONSULTING5.15%
    MANAGEMENT1.57%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    CONSULTANCY1.29%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    ASSOCIATES0.92%PROPERTY2.40%
    GLOBAL0.83%TRADING2.03%
    SKIP0.83%DESIGN1.86%
    HIRE0.74%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    MARKETING0.65%ENGINEERING1.79%
    PROPERTY0.65%BUSINESS1.76%
    HITCHIN0.55%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    TRADE0.55%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    INVESTMENTS0.55%LONDON1.69%
    ENGINEERING0.55%MEDIA1.69%
    TRADING0.55%GLOBAL1.59%
    HOLDINGS0.55%J1.57%
    ENTERPRISES0.55%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    D0.55%IT1.43%
    BUSINESS0.55%CARE1.39%
    ELECTRICAL0.46%PROPERTIES1.34%
    BUILDING0.46%M1.26%
    CONSTRUCTION0.46%BUILDING1.23%
    MIDI0.46%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    MINI0.46%TRAINING1.18%
    MAINTENANCE0.46%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    10.46%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied261236,139
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management6230,396
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified5552,427
    74990 - Non-trading company5013,808
    99999 - Dormant Company3840,648
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3415,572
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified3122,058
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities2923,256
    62090 - Other information technology service activities2112,291
    74100 - specialised design activities113,267
    49410 - Freight transport by road105,165
    41100 - Development of building projects107,980
    7487 - Other business activities1010,703
    93199 - Other sports activities93,154
    85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified94,677
    98000 - Residents property management94,377
    62012 - Business and domestic software development97,446
    43210 - Electrical installation85,304
    86900 - Other human health activities87,866
    71200 - Technical testing and analysis7781

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08279230 WASTE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LIMITED 02 Nov 2012
    08280905 SHINEONSERVICES LIMITED 05 Nov 2012
    08282066 SPORTS - XTRA: HERTS & BEDS LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08282698 INTASTAR MEDIA LTD 06 Nov 2012
    08285372 PORTERS END CONSULTANCY LTD 07 Nov 2012
    08288842 BUSINESS ENGLISH CONNECT LTD 12 Nov 2012
    08289501 PONIKIEWSKIBURROWS RESEARCH AND TRAINING LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08289575 SKYFILLER FIREWORKS LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08291849 B & G PROPERTY RENOVATIONS LIMITED 13 Nov 2012
    08292939 GB GIFTS LIMITED 14 Nov 2012
    08299119 BALFOUR CONSTRUCTION LIMITED 19 Nov 2012
    08306832 BID ASSOCIATES LTD 26 Nov 2012
    08310764 FTD GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED 28 Nov 2012
    08310767 STEWART CREATIVE LIMITED 28 Nov 2012
    08277629 HEYTESBURY STREET LTD 01 Nov 2012
    08286295 HITCHIN BOYS' SCHOOL 08 Nov 2012
    08291228 APPAREL FASHION 2012 LIMITED 13 Nov 2012
    08294037 SCW CREATIVE LIMITED 15 Nov 2012
    08294257 LOGICGATE LTD 15 Nov 2012
    08296054 TREESPOON LIMITED 16 Nov 2012
    08300878 THE ORCHARD FAIRFIELD LTD 20 Nov 2012
    08302244 ZIP KART (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED 21 Nov 2012
    08304512 MASTER JEWELLERS LIMITED 22 Nov 2012
    08306160 CJW AVIATION LIMITED 23 Nov 2012
    08313106 GOLDLINK DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED 29 Nov 2012