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London, Greater London

2011 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2011 was a record year for company registrations in London when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.
  • November 2011 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous November.
  • The second half of 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • October 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London 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 (2011)

    2011 was a record year for company registrations in London when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 112,010 companies were formed in London in 2011. This total is 17.0% higher than in 2010 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 13.1% growth compared to 400,358 the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    2011112,010452,870
    201095,735400,358
    200982,474362,675
    200876,411349,203
    200797,151457,649
    Record Year2011 (112,010)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The second half of 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 56,355 companies were formed in London. This figure is 16.5% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 14.0%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2011 when a total of 56,355 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201156,355224,135
    201048,393196,609
    % change16.5%14.0%
    Record Year2011 (56,355)2011 (224,135)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Q4 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 28,330 companies were registered in London during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is an increase of 16.8% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 15.3% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)LondonUK
    201128,330109,623
    201024,25495,117
    % change16.8%15.3%
    Record Year 2011 (28,330) 2011 (109,623)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    December 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.

    November 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.

    October 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 20119,84210,4927,996
    New companies in 20108,2678,5867,401
    % change19.1%22.2%8.0%
    Record Year2011 (9,842)2011 (10,492)2011 (7,996)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 72,421 companies were dissolved in London in 2011. This total is 1.9% lower than in 2010 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    201172,421314,523
    201073,853342,232
    2009114,236533,773
    200851,371237,901
    200752,967220,295
    Record Year2009 (114,236)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 35,616 companies were dissolved in London. This figure is 0.3% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -7.5%.

    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
    201135,616152,213
    201035,724164,601
    % change-0.3%-7.5%
    Record Year2009 (46,884)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    A total of 18,603 companies were dissolved in London during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is an increase of 10.7% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 4.0% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)LondonUK
    201118,60379,983
    201016,79976,896
    % change10.7%4.0%
    Record Year 2009 (19,571) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    November 2011 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20114,4977,3776,729
    Closed companies in 20106,2077,3063,286
    % change-27.5%1.0%105%
    Record Year2009 (6,730)2011 (7,377)2009 (7,012)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 39,589 companies were added to the company register for London in 2011. This number represents growth of 41.4% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 34.6%.

    This number is 17,707 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
    201139,589138,347
    201021,88258,126
    2009-31,762-171,098
    200825,040111,302
    200744,184237,354
    Record Year2007 (44,184)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The second half of 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2011 the company register for London increased by 20,739 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201120,73971,922
    201012,66932,008
    Record Year2011 (20,739)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Q4 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous Q4.

    Net company growth for London during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011) was 9,727 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)LondonUK
    20119,72729,640
    20107,45518,221
    Record Year 2011 (9,727) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    October 2011 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous October.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20115,3453,1151,267
    Net growth in 20102,0601,2804,115
    Record Year2011 (5,345)1995 (3,494)2010 (4,115)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    In 2011 London formed 24.7% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2010 when London was responsible for 23.9% of all UK companies.

    YearLondon
    201124.7%
    201023.9%
    200922.7%
    200821.9%
    200721.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)1998 (26.9%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 London formed 25.1% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2010 figure of 24.6%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)London
    201125.1%
    201024.6%
    200923.3%
    200822.2%
    200722.6%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    In the fourth quarter of 2011, London formed 25.8% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)London
    201125.8%
    201025.5%
    200923.7%
    200822.4%
    200722.6%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 201125.4%26.0%26.1%
    UK formation share in 201024.6%25.0%27.3%
    % change3.5%4.1%-4.2%
    Record Year1998 (28.1%)1999 (27.3%)2010 (27.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    The average age of a director in 2011 was 41.5.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.6% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2011 was 41.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 41.4.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.0% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    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 2011 was 21.7%. The average for the UK during this time was 28.6%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

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

    24.1% of all director appointments in London in the second half of 2011 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

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

    23.7% of all director appointments in London in the fourth quarter of 2011 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 2010-Dec 2011)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING3.78%CONSULTING5.07%
    MANAGEMENT2.93%MANAGEMENT4.74%
    LONDON2.68%CONSULTANCY3.26%
    TRADING1.98%PROPERTY2.37%
    CONSULTANCY1.66%TRADING2.07%
    GLOBAL1.62%DESIGN1.92%
    MEDIA1.54%ASSOCIATES1.86%
    CAPITAL1.52%ENGINEERING1.78%
    INTERNATIONAL1.46%BUSINESS1.78%
    INVESTMENTS1.44%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    INVEST1.33%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    PROPERTY1.32%MEDIA1.71%
    BUSINESS1.21%LONDON1.63%
    CO.,1.15%J1.51%
    PRODUCTIONS1.13%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    ASSOCIATES1.05%GLOBAL1.46%
    DESIGN1.05%IT1.41%
    PARTNERS0.99%CARE1.39%
    GROUP0.93%PROPERTIES1.29%
    CONSULTANTS0.93%ELECTRICAL1.29%
    INVESTMENT0.88%M1.27%
    PROPERTIES0.88%BUILDING1.26%
    CONSTRUCTION0.85%ENERGY1.25%
    ENTERPRISES0.77%S1.20%
    IT0.76%ENTERPRISES1.20%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied59,319205,525
    7487 - Other business activities14,46457,052
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified8,42632,483
    99999 - Dormant Company7,48821,846
    9999 - Dormant Company7,15420,199
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management3,41417,765
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified2,93011,768
    7414 - Business & management consultancy2,88613,034
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities2,61512,072
    9305 - Other service activities2,5139,492
    7499 - Non-trading company2,1769,957
    74990 - Non-trading company2,1468,929
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply1,8047,398
    7260 - Other computer related activities1,6557,667
    62090 - Other information technology service activities1,5767,493
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified1,5298,671
    5530 - Restaurants1,2225,013
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified1,0432,946
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate8824,082
    62012 - Business and domestic software development8793,714

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07868260 NANU MONTANA LTD 02 Dec 2011
    07868781 HIGH FREQUENCY EVENTS LIMITED 02 Dec 2011
    07869829 GREENHILL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LTD 02 Dec 2011
    07869994 POPIS MESSAGE & BEAUTY LTD 05 Dec 2011
    07871782 FINTRUST UK LIMITED 06 Dec 2011
    07873571 GULMA LIMITED 07 Dec 2011
    07874285 GHANA MUSIC AWARDS EUROPE LTD. 07 Dec 2011
    07875222 ICELAND TOPCO LIMITED 08 Dec 2011
    07876252 OCEANGUARD LIMITED 09 Dec 2011
    07878795 BESTCO EXPRESS LTD 12 Dec 2011
    07879530 YOUTH EDUCARE 13 Dec 2011
    07879842 SONN MACMILLAN WALKER LIMITED 13 Dec 2011
    07880788 MAARC LIMITED 14 Dec 2011
    07884053 RED HOT CHILLIES LTD 15 Dec 2011
    07885677 R S SOLUTION (UK) LIMITED 19 Dec 2011
    07886893 W8SMITH LTD 20 Dec 2011
    07886907 FARIHA LIMITED 20 Dec 2011
    07887072 AKBARABAD RESTAURANT LIMITED 20 Dec 2011
    07889632 OCEANS PROPERTY LTD 22 Dec 2011
    07890627 ALNERY NO. 3010 LIMITED 22 Dec 2011
    07890994 BIGLAND ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRE LIMITED 22 Dec 2011
    07893416 SHAH AIR & SEA CARGO SERVICES LTD 29 Dec 2011
    07893759 HOROPPA LIMITED 29 Dec 2011
    07893788 VIMAGIO LTD 29 Dec 2011
    07894260 MARIO & FATMIR BUILDING CONTRACTORS LTD 30 Dec 2011