London, Greater London

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • 2012 was a record year for company registrations in London when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous October.
  • 2012 was a record year for net growth in London when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous December.
  • November 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous November.

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 London when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 124,393 companies were formed in London in 2012. This total is 11.1% higher than in 2011 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    2012124,393491,893
    2011112,010452,870
    201095,735400,358
    200982,474362,675
    200876,411349,203
    Record Year2012 (124,393)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 London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 61,273 companies were formed in London. This figure is 8.7% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2012 when a total of 61,273 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201261,273238,743
    201156,355224,135
    % change8.7%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (61,273)2012 (238,743)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Q4 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 31,234 companies were registered in London during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 10.3% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares equally 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)LondonUK
    201231,234119,875
    201128,330109,623
    % change10.3%9.4%
    Record Year 2012 (31,234) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.

    November 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous November.

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

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201211,67911,2348,321
    New companies in 20119,84210,4927,996
    % change18.7%7.1%4.1%
    Record Year2012 (11,679)2012 (11,234)2012 (8,321)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 69,001 companies were dissolved in London in 2012. This total is 4.7% lower than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    201269,001293,728
    201172,425314,524
    201073,854342,233
    2009114,223533,787
    200851,357237,873
    Record Year2009 (114,223)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 33,827 companies were dissolved in London. This figure is 5.0% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2009 when a total of 46,880 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201233,827145,934
    201135,625152,213
    % change-5.0%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (46,880)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 16,507 companies were dissolved in London during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 11.3% 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)LondonUK
    201216,50770,026
    201118,61179,983
    % change-11.3%-12.4%
    Record Year 2009 (19,570) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20127,9014,9393,667
    Closed companies in 20114,5017,3776,733
    % change75.5%-33.0%-46%
    Record Year2012 (7,901)2011 (7,377)2009 (7,012)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

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

    A total of 55,392 companies were added to the company register for London in 2012. This number represents growth of 49.5% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 15,807 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2012 when the London company register grew by 55,392 companies.

    YearLondonUK
    201255,392198,165
    201139,585138,346
    201021,88158,125
    2009-31,749-171,112
    200825,054111,330
    Record Year2012 (55,392)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 London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for London increased by 27,446 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201227,44692,809
    201120,73071,922
    Record Year2012 (27,446)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Q4 2012 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 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 14,727 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)LondonUK
    201214,72749,849
    20119,71929,640
    Record Year 2012 (14,727) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    December 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous December.

    November 2012 saw a new record in net growth in London when compared to any previous November.

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20123,7786,2954,654
    Net growth in 20115,3413,1151,263
    Record Year2011 (5,341)2012 (6,295)2012 (4,654)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 London formed 25.3% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2011 when London was responsible for 24.7% of all UK companies.

    YearLondon
    201225.3%
    201124.7%
    201023.9%
    200922.7%
    200821.9%
    Record Year (since 1960)1998 (26.9%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 London formed 25.7% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2011 figure of 25.1%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)London
    201225.7%
    201125.1%
    201024.6%
    200923.3%
    200822.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, London formed 26.1% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)London
    201226.1%
    201125.8%
    201025.5%
    200923.7%
    200822.4%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 201225.4%26.5%26.5%
    UK formation share in 201125.4%26.0%26.1%
    % change-0.3%1.9%1.3%
    Record Year1998 (28.1%)1999 (27.3%)2010 (27.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 41.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.7% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.6% 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 40.9.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.7% 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 40.8.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.7% 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 London was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in London in 2012 was 22.3%. 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 London was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    23.9% of all director appointments in London 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 London was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    23.8% of all director appointments in London 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
    CONSULTING3.78%CONSULTING5.15%
    MANAGEMENT2.79%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    LONDON2.76%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    TRADING1.92%PROPERTY2.40%
    GLOBAL1.72%TRADING2.03%
    CONSULTANCY1.69%DESIGN1.86%
    CAPITAL1.52%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    MEDIA1.48%ENGINEERING1.79%
    CO.,1.41%BUSINESS1.76%
    PROPERTY1.37%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    INTERNATIONAL1.35%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    INVESTMENTS1.31%LONDON1.69%
    BUSINESS1.19%MEDIA1.69%
    CONSULTANTS1.07%GLOBAL1.59%
    DESIGN1.06%J1.57%
    PRODUCTIONS1.02%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    ASSOCIATES0.96%IT1.43%
    PARTNERS0.95%CARE1.39%
    CONSTRUCTION0.86%PROPERTIES1.34%
    PROPERTIES0.85%M1.26%
    IT0.84%BUILDING1.23%
    GROUP0.80%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    ENTERPRISES0.79%TRAINING1.18%
    SECURITY0.78%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    INVESTMENT0.76%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied69,528236,139
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified16,04852,427
    99999 - Dormant Company13,91640,648
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management6,46530,396
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified5,90022,058
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities5,08023,256
    74990 - Non-trading company3,66313,808
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3,10215,572
    7487 - Other business activities3,07010,703
    62090 - Other information technology service activities2,91912,291
    62012 - Business and domestic software development1,8377,446
    41100 - Development of building projects1,7277,980
    9999 - Dormant Company1,6344,599
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate1,6286,971
    56101 - Licensed restaurants1,5596,400
    86900 - Other human health activities1,5237,866
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified1,5224,537
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities1,4726,177
    68100 - Buying and selling of own real estate1,4254,752
    59111 - Motion picture production activities1,2742,479

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08276537 GROVETEX LIMITED 01 Nov 2012
    08277027 NORTHMAST LIMITED 01 Nov 2012
    08277044 THE MA PENSION PLAN COMPANY LIMITED 01 Nov 2012
    08277560 I & I ZAMANS LTD 01 Nov 2012
    08279825 B&S MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY LTD 05 Nov 2012
    08280624 NOW SPACES LIMITED 05 Nov 2012
    08280835 GLOBAL EUROPE TRADES SERVICES LIMITED 05 Nov 2012
    OC379899 ETONPRIME LLP 05 Nov 2012
    08281060 TOLDI LTD 05 Nov 2012
    08281756 ASHLEE LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08281932 LONDON CAB HIRE LTD 06 Nov 2012
    08282393 M & J LONDON LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08282436 E1 AUTO GARAGE LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08282946 HELP FOR CHANGE 06 Nov 2012
    08283928 YQB LIMITED 07 Nov 2012
    08285332 ARENA ENTERPRISE LIMITED 07 Nov 2012
    08286934 CENTRAL LONCON COLLEGE LIMITED 08 Nov 2012
    08289536 CRYSTAL KEY LTD 12 Nov 2012
    OC380152 GOLD TRAVELLERS LLP 12 Nov 2012
    08290847 APARTMENT 24 TEXTILE BUILDING LIMITED 12 Nov 2012
    08291356 ISOFTLONDON LTD 13 Nov 2012
    08291544 PROPERTY FINDER (UK) LIMITED 13 Nov 2012
    08292679 QUEST SOLUTIONS CONSULTING LTD 14 Nov 2012
    08292895 ALDERBRANCH LIMITED 14 Nov 2012
    08293052 NEURON CENTRE LIMITED 14 Nov 2012