Hitchin, Hertfordshire

2014 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • The second half of 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Hitchin when compared to any previous second half year.
  • December 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Hitchin when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Hitchin 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 (2014)

    A total of 607 companies were formed in Hitchin in 2014. This total is 18.3% higher than in 2013 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 10.0% growth compared to 529,363 the previous year.

    YearHitchinUK
    2014607582,051
    2013513529,363
    2012673491,893
    2011583452,870
    2010469400,358
    Record Year2012 (673)2014 (582,051)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 306 companies were formed in Hitchin. This figure is 22.9% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 8.2%.

    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
    2014306281,320
    2013249259,931
    % change22.9%8.2%
    Record Year2012 (315)2014 (281,320)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 135 companies were registered in Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 1.5% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares badly 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)HitchinUK
    2014135137,906
    2013133127,247
    % change1.5%8.4%
    Record Year 2011 (176) 2014 (137,906)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2014554238
    New companies in 2013414349
    % change34.1%-2.3%-22.4%
    Record Year2012 (71)2011 (55)2011 (72)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 430 companies were dissolved in Hitchin in 2014. This total is 34.4% higher than in 2013 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 10.8% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearHitchinUK
    2014430367,937
    2013320332,213
    2012308293,729
    2011321314,524
    2010325342,233
    Record Year2009 (483)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

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

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 231 companies were dissolved in Hitchin. This figure is 31.3% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 7.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Hitchin occurred in 2014 when a total of 231 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HitchinUK
    2014231190,730
    2013176177,021
    % change31.3%7.7%
    Record Year2014 (231)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 118 companies were dissolved in Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 14.6% 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)HitchinUK
    201411889,060
    201310390,851
    % change14.6%-2.0%
    Record Year 2014 (118) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

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

    October 2014 saw a new record in company closures in Hitchin when compared to any previous October.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2014463042
    Closed companies in 2013433030
    % change7.0%0.0%40%
    Record Year2014 (46)2011 (34)2014 (42)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 177 companies were added to the company register for Hitchin in 2014. This number represents growth of 29.2% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 36.8%.

    This number is 16 companies lower 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
    2014177214,114
    2013193197,150
    2012365198,164
    2011262138,346
    201014458,125
    Record Year2012 (365)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 the company register for Hitchin increased by 75 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)HitchinUK
    20147590,590
    20137382,910
    Record Year2012 (172)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Net company growth for Hitchin during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014) was 17 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)HitchinUK
    20141748,846
    20133036,396
    Record Year 2011 (99) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2014912-4
    Net growth in 2013-21319
    Record Year2002 (36)2011 (21)2011 (50)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2014)

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

    YearHitchin
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960)1997 (0.1%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

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

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Hitchin
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.1%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1993 (0.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

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

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)Hitchin
    20140.1%
    20130.1%
    20120.1%
    20110.2%
    20100.1%
    Record Year (since 1960) 2011 (0.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20140.1%0.1%0.1%
    UK formation share in 20130.1%0.1%0.1%
    % change27.7%-7.2%-33.6%
    Record Year1994 (0.2%)1996 (0.2%)2011 (0.2%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The average age of a director in 2014 was 45.4.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.5% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.7% 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 45.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 6.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.9% 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 45.8.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 7.9% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.0% 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 Hitchin was 1970 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Hitchin in 2014 was 27.9%. 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 Hitchin was 2007 when 32.5% of all directors were female.

    27.0% of all director appointments in Hitchin 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 Hitchin was in 2007 when 32.1% of all directors were female.

    25.2% of all director appointments in Hitchin 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
    CONSULTING2.28%CONSULTING5.22%
    MANAGEMENT1.52%MANAGEMENT4.58%
    PROPERTY1.24%CONSULTANCY3.57%
    CONSULTANCY0.95%PROPERTY2.66%
    INVESTMENTS0.76%CONSTRUCTION2.12%
    BUILDING0.76%ENGINEERING2.10%
    TRADING0.76%CARE2.02%
    ASSOCIATES0.76%TRADING1.94%
    RECYCLING0.67%LONDON1.93%
    HIRE0.67%TRANSPORT1.93%
    CONSULTANTS0.57%DESIGN1.66%
    FINANCIAL0.57%CONSULTANTS1.64%
    SKIP0.57%ELECTRICAL1.62%
    CARE0.48%PROPERTIES1.62%
    CREATIVE0.48%BUSINESS1.56%
    HITCHIN0.48%J1.54%
    EATON0.48%CO.,1.50%
    CAPITAL0.48%GLOBAL1.49%
    D0.48%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    DIRECT0.48%ASSOCIATES1.47%
    PROPERTIES0.48%DEVELOPMENTS1.35%
    PROJECT0.38%MEDIA1.33%
    MEWS0.38%IT1.31%
    MEDIA0.38%BUILDING1.29%
    ELECTRICAL0.38%M1.22%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied356265,608
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management9242,290
    99999 - Dormant Company6948,509
    74990 - Non-trading company6113,984
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified4058,068
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities3830,178
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3719,049
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified2929,009
    62090 - Other information technology service activities1812,837
    86900 - Other human health activities1712,976
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet1510,107
    41100 - Development of building projects1511,397
    47990 - Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets106,452
    62012 - Business and domestic software development109,752
    43210 - Electrical installation105,985
    90030 - Artistic creation104,610
    96020 - Hairdressing and other beauty treatment96,742
    93199 - Other sports activities94,176
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate911,212
    85590 - Other education not elsewhere classified86,206

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    09245077 LIMES & VINES LIMITED 02 Oct 2014
    09247981 ROOKIES DAY NURSERIES LIMITED 03 Oct 2014
    09250365 HISKIEL LTD 06 Oct 2014
    09256887 HIGH END BUILDERS LTD 09 Oct 2014
    09259984 ESHU LTD 13 Oct 2014
    09264415 137 SOUTHWOOD LANE (FREEHOLD) LIMITED 15 Oct 2014
    09265331 D HEUER SERVICES LIMITED 15 Oct 2014
    09273830 8 EATON MEWS NORTH LTD 21 Oct 2014
    09274076 57 EATON MEWS NORTH LTD 21 Oct 2014
    09275062 LITTLE GERANIUM LIMITED 22 Oct 2014
    OC396064 KADUCEO LLP 23 Oct 2014
    09284645 57 EATON SQUARE LIMITED 28 Oct 2014
    09285336 RESOURCE FINANCIAL CONSULTING LIMITED 29 Oct 2014
    09287905 APTIGO LIMITED 30 Oct 2014
    09289023 TENBERRI LIMITED 30 Oct 2014
    09244036 KINGSWOOD HEATING SERVICES LIMITED 01 Oct 2014
    09253150 LC1 MANAGEMENT LIMITED 07 Oct 2014
    09255909 H & P CLEANERS LTD 09 Oct 2014
    09261214 PERI-PERI RESTAURANTS LTD 13 Oct 2014
    09267028 INTEGRITAS CONSULT LTD 16 Oct 2014
    09272775 FABIO'S GELATO LIMITED 21 Oct 2014
    09276467 BASEFROM LIMITED 23 Oct 2014
    09282517 CULLEN RETAIL LIMITED 27 Oct 2014
    09284414 KD ACHIEVE LTD 28 Oct 2014
    09288181 HITCHIN LEISURE LTD 30 Oct 2014