London, Greater London

2010 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.
  • November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous November.
  • December 2010 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous December.
  • December 2010 saw a new record in UK company share in London 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 (2010)

    A total of 95,735 companies were formed in London in 2010. This total is 16.1% higher than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 10.4% growth compared to 362,675 the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    201095,735400,358
    200982,474362,675
    200876,411349,203
    200797,151457,649
    200682,793405,440
    Record Year2007 (97,151)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The second half of 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 48,393 companies were formed in London. This figure is 15.1% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 8.8%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2010 when a total of 48,393 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201048,393196,609
    200942,056180,654
    % change15.1%8.8%
    Record Year2010 (48,393)2003 (201,446)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Q4 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 24,254 companies were registered in London during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is an increase of 18.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 10.6% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)LondonUK
    201024,25495,117
    200920,40185,983
    % change18.9%10.6%
    Record Year 2010 (24,254) 2010 (95,117)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    December 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.

    November 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.

    October 2010 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 20108,2678,5867,401
    New companies in 20096,8227,1516,428
    % change21.2%20.1%15.1%
    Record Year2010 (8,267)2010 (8,586)2010 (7,401)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 73,853 companies were dissolved in London in 2010. This total is 35.4% lower than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 35.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    201073,853342,232
    2009114,236533,773
    200851,371237,901
    200752,967220,295
    200650,794200,166
    Record Year2009 (114,236)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 35,724 companies were dissolved in London. This figure is 23.8% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -32.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2009 when a total of 46,884 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201035,724164,601
    200946,884244,537
    % change-23.8%-32.7%
    Record Year2009 (46,884)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 16,799 companies were dissolved in London during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is a decrease of 14.2% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 9.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)LondonUK
    201016,79976,896
    200919,57185,136
    % change-14.2%-9.7%
    Record Year 2009 (19,571) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    November 2010 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20106,2077,3063,286
    Closed companies in 20096,7305,8297,012
    % change-7.8%25.3%-53%
    Record Year2009 (6,730)2010 (7,306)2009 (7,012)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 21,882 companies were added to the company register for London in 2010. This number represents growth of 26.5% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 16.0%.

    This number is 53,644 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the London company register grew by 44,184 companies.

    YearLondonUK
    201021,88258,126
    2009-31,762-171,098
    200825,040111,302
    200744,184237,354
    200631,999205,274
    Record Year2007 (44,184)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 the company register for London increased by 12,669 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201012,66932,008
    2009-4,828-63,883
    Record Year1995 (18,568)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Net company growth for London during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010) was 7,455 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)LondonUK
    20107,45518,221
    2009830847
    Record Year 1995 (9,340) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    December 2010 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous December.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20102,0601,2804,115
    Net growth in 2009921,322-584
    Record Year2008 (5,034)1995 (3,494)2010 (4,115)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    In 2010 London formed 23.9% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2009 when London was responsible for 22.7% of all UK companies.

    YearLondon
    201023.9%
    200922.7%
    200821.9%
    200721.2%
    200620.4%
    Record Year (since 1960)1998 (26.9%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 London formed 24.6% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2009 figure of 23.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)London
    201024.6%
    200923.3%
    200822.2%
    200722.6%
    200621.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    In the fourth quarter of 2010, London formed 25.5% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)London
    201025.5%
    200923.7%
    200822.4%
    200722.6%
    200621.9%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    December 2010 saw a new record in UK company share in London when compared to any previous December.

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 201024.6%25.0%27.3%
    UK formation share in 200923.2%23.3%24.9%
    % change6.1%7.3%9.6%
    Record Year1998 (28.1%)1999 (27.3%)2010 (27.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The average age of a director in 2010 was 42.5.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.4% compared to the UK figure of 2.5%.

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

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2010 was 42.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.8% compared to the UK figure of 2.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2010 was 42.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.9% compared to the UK figure of 3.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The record year for female directors in London was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in London in 2010 was 20.9%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.2%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The record second half year for female directors in London was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    22.7% of all director appointments in London in the second half of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.0% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in London was in 1977 when 31.1% of all directors were female.

    22.1% of all director appointments in London in the fourth quarter of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 24.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2009-Dec 2010)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING3.96%CONSULTING5.06%
    MANAGEMENT3.20%MANAGEMENT5.01%
    LONDON2.68%CONSULTANCY3.14%
    TRADING2.07%PROPERTY2.36%
    CAPITAL1.75%TRADING2.11%
    CONSULTANCY1.65%ASSOCIATES1.95%
    INTERNATIONAL1.57%DESIGN1.92%
    INVEST1.56%BUSINESS1.82%
    GLOBAL1.55%CONSTRUCTION1.82%
    MEDIA1.53%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    INVESTMENTS1.40%MEDIA1.71%
    PROPERTY1.30%ENGINEERING1.62%
    BUSINESS1.27%LONDON1.60%
    PRODUCTIONS1.16%CARE1.45%
    DESIGN1.04%INVESTMENTS1.44%
    CONSULTANTS1.03%GLOBAL1.43%
    ASSOCIATES1.03%J1.42%
    PARTNERS0.94%IT1.41%
    PROPERTIES0.92%PROPERTIES1.34%
    CONSTRUCTION0.90%INTERNATIONAL1.34%
    INVESTMENT0.88%BUILDING1.34%
    GROUP0.86%M1.30%
    IT0.83%ELECTRICAL1.25%
    SECURITY0.78%SYSTEMS1.24%
    ROAD0.76%S1.23%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied56,658199,572
    7487 - Other business activities14,51163,348
    9999 - Dormant Company6,90620,144
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified6,16927,550
    99999 - Dormant Company4,73016,285
    7414 - Business & management consultancy2,95613,474
    7499 - Non-trading company2,74312,000
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management2,51614,505
    9305 - Other service activities2,2878,858
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified2,0778,799
    74990 - Non-trading company1,8098,243
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities1,8019,177
    7260 - Other computer related activities1,6928,089
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply1,6137,298
    62090 - Other information technology service activities1,2326,330
    5530 - Restaurants1,1894,939
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified1,1627,088
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering1,0626,598
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified8792,527
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate7533,755

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07424424 VIBRANT MINDS LTD 29 Oct 2010
    07423286 ORIGINAL TASTE LIMITED 29 Oct 2010
    07421497 MARCORE LIMITED 27 Oct 2010
    07420896 II&B UK LIMITED 27 Oct 2010
    07420192 GIFTS4FRIENDS LTD 27 Oct 2010
    07419722 IVORS CLUB SOHO LIMITED 26 Oct 2010
    07419680 THE NON RESIDENT BANGLADESHI FOUNDATION UK LIMITED 26 Oct 2010
    07418998 DHAKA REGENCY DIRECTORS LIMITED 26 Oct 2010
    07417237 NEXT STEP LONDON 25 Oct 2010
    07415373 CHEMICAL POUNDS LTD 21 Oct 2010
    07413775 SNAAK LTD 20 Oct 2010
    07412617 GROVEMANOR LIMITED 19 Oct 2010
    07412426 HASAN LMT LIMITED 19 Oct 2010
    07411549 FLIGHT-HOUSE TRAVEL LTD 19 Oct 2010
    07409448 S&S TRADE LTD 15 Oct 2010
    07409211 CPLANCE LIMITED 15 Oct 2010
    07408703 EURO CAR MATS LTD 15 Oct 2010
    07408449 BESTS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TRADING LTD 15 Oct 2010
    07406550 ESPAC CONSULTING LTD. 13 Oct 2010
    07406544 CIRCUMSURGEONS LTD 13 Oct 2010
    07406462 GALAXY MARINE LIMITED 13 Oct 2010
    07406280 PHONE BAZAR LIMITED 13 Oct 2010
    07405954 TRAVEL HOUSE (UK) LTD 13 Oct 2010
    07405464 BANOFUL LUTON LIMITED 13 Oct 2010
    07404629 STUDIO-4YOU LTD 12 Oct 2010