London, Greater London

2013 Annual Business Confidence Report

NOTICE: We have improved our calculations of the statistics in these reports, so some figures and records may not match previous reports.

Headlines

  • 2013 was a record year for company registrations in London when compared to any year in history.
  • The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.
  • December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2013 saw a new record in company closures 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 (2013)

    2013 was a record year for company registrations in London when compared to any year in history.

    A total of 134,621 companies were formed in London in 2013. This total is 8.3% higher than in 2012 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 7.6% growth compared to 491,893 the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    2013134,621529,363
    2012124,359491,893
    2011112,010452,870
    201095,735400,358
    200982,474362,675
    Record Year2013 (134,621)2013 (529,363)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 66,354 companies were formed in London. This figure is 8.4% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.9%.

    The highest total for a second half year in London occurred in 2013 when a total of 66,354 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201366,354259,931
    201261,239238,743
    % change8.4%8.9%
    Record Year2013 (66,354)2013 (259,931)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    Q4 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 33,040 companies were registered in London during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 5.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 6.1% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)LondonUK
    201333,040127,247
    201231,200119,875
    % change5.9%6.1%
    Record Year 2013 (33,040) 2013 (127,247)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    December 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous December.

    October 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in London when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201312,63411,2259,181
    New companies in 201211,67911,2278,294
    % change8.2%0.0%10.7%
    Record Year2013 (12,634)2012 (11,227)2013 (9,181)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 81,005 companies were dissolved in London in 2013. This total is 17.4% higher than in 2012 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 13.1% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearLondonUK
    201381,005332,213
    201269,001293,729
    201172,425314,524
    201073,854342,233
    2009114,224533,789
    Record Year2009 (114,224)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 42,316 companies were dissolved in London. This figure is 25.1% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 21.3%.

    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
    201342,316177,021
    201233,827145,935
    % change25.1%21.3%
    Record Year2009 (46,880)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    A total of 22,030 companies were dissolved in London during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 33.5% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 29.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)LondonUK
    201322,03090,851
    201216,50770,027
    % change33.5%29.7%
    Record Year 2013 (22,030) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous December.

    October 2013 saw a new record in company closures in London when compared to any previous October.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20138,5466,3487,136
    Closed companies in 20127,9014,9393,667
    % change8.2%28.5%95%
    Record Year2013 (8,546)2011 (7,377)2013 (7,136)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 53,616 companies were added to the company register for London in 2013. This number represents growth of 39.8% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 37.2%.

    This number is 1,742 companies lower 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 55,358 companies.

    YearLondonUK
    201353,616197,150
    201255,358198,164
    201139,585138,346
    201021,88158,125
    2009-31,750-171,114
    Record Year2012 (55,358)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 the company register for London increased by 24,038 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)LondonUK
    201324,03882,910
    201227,41292,808
    Record Year2012 (27,412)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    Net company growth for London during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013) was 11,010 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)LondonUK
    201311,01036,396
    201214,69349,848
    Record Year 2012 (14,693) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20134,0884,8772,045
    Net growth in 20123,7786,2884,627
    Record Year2011 (5,341)2012 (6,288)2012 (4,627)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    In 2013 London formed 25.4% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2012 when London was responsible for 25.3% of all UK companies.

    YearLondon
    201325.4%
    201225.3%
    201124.7%
    201023.9%
    200922.7%
    Record Year (since 1960)1998 (26.9%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 London formed 25.5% of all UK companies. This is less than the 2012 figure of 25.7%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)London
    201325.5%
    201225.7%
    201125.1%
    201024.6%
    200923.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.1%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    In the fourth quarter of 2013, London formed 26.0% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)London
    201326.0%
    201226.0%
    201125.8%
    201025.5%
    200923.7%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1998 (27.2%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 201325.5%26.0%26.6%
    UK formation share in 201225.4%26.5%26.4%
    % change0.5%-1.7%0.7%
    Record Year1909 (32.1%)1929 (29.0%)2010 (27.3%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The average age of a director in 2013 was 42.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.9%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.4% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2013 was 41.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 5.4% compared to the UK figure of 4.8%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 41.5.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.3% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 6.7% compared to the UK figure of 5.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The record year for female directors in London was 1940 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in London in 2013 was 23.5%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.0%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The record second half year for female directors in London was 2012 when 23.5% of all directors were female.

    23.3% of all director appointments in London in the second half of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.9% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in London was in 2010 when 23.7% of all directors were female.

    22.6% of all director appointments in London in the fourth quarter of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.6% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2012-Dec 2013)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING3.75%CONSULTING5.22%
    LONDON3.01%MANAGEMENT4.72%
    MANAGEMENT2.85%CONSULTANCY3.45%
    TRADING1.92%PROPERTY2.59%
    CONSULTANCY1.75%TRADING2.08%
    CAPITAL1.72%ENGINEERING1.87%
    CO.,1.71%LONDON1.86%
    GLOBAL1.69%DESIGN1.76%
    PROPERTY1.45%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    INVESTMENTS1.43%CARE1.73%
    INTERNATIONAL1.35%BUSINESS1.71%
    MEDIA1.34%CONSULTANTS1.68%
    BUSINESS1.12%GLOBAL1.58%
    DESIGN1.07%INVESTMENTS1.56%
    PARTNERS0.97%PROPERTIES1.54%
    PRODUCTIONS0.97%ASSOCIATES1.53%
    PROPERTIES0.94%J1.51%
    CONSTRUCTION0.93%MEDIA1.50%
    CONSULTANTS0.91%IT1.35%
    ASSOCIATES0.88%DEVELOPMENTS1.23%
    INVESTMENT0.84%M1.23%
    GROUP0.79%BUILDING1.21%
    TRADE0.75%ELECTRICAL1.20%
    IT0.75%CAPITAL1.19%
    CO0.74%ENERGY1.14%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied78,614266,814
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified20,05155,342
    99999 - Dormant Company14,97846,762
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management8,14536,164
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified7,61326,001
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities6,13127,183
    74990 - Non-trading company3,80914,223
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3,76318,034
    62090 - Other information technology service activities3,25412,511
    62012 - Business and domestic software development2,5569,360
    86900 - Other human health activities2,0359,543
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate1,9768,733
    41100 - Development of building projects1,9769,485
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet1,8898,879
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities1,8567,075
    56101 - Licensed restaurants1,8317,685
    68100 - Buying and selling of own real estate1,8305,656
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified1,7525,309
    90030 - Artistic creation1,5034,138
    59111 - Motion picture production activities1,4672,933

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08712823 CS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS (UK) LTD 01 Oct 2013
    08713196 FA BOUTIQUE LIMITED 01 Oct 2013
    08714089 BUSINESS BEYOND BORDER LTD 01 Oct 2013
    08714645 KINKAO THAI RESTAURANT LIMITED 02 Oct 2013
    08715416 COVERCOUCH LTD 02 Oct 2013
    OC388265 P W AND L MEDIA LLP 03 Oct 2013
    08721326 A H & Z LAW ASSOCIATES LIMITED 07 Oct 2013
    08721436 THE BUSINESS HUB CARDIFF LTD 07 Oct 2013
    OC388336 TOWER CHAMBERS LLP 08 Oct 2013
    08723810 AFTAHAN TUITION LIMITED 08 Oct 2013
    08724472 SPICE GARDEN (HEACHAM) LTD 09 Oct 2013
    08724754 GAB85 LTD 09 Oct 2013
    08725319 XADU EDUCARE LIMITED 09 Oct 2013
    08725911 AFTER SIX FASHION LTD 10 Oct 2013
    08727209 DVSN LIMITED 10 Oct 2013
    08727809 AQUANOVA USA LTD 10 Oct 2013
    08728055 RELIANCE GROUP OF COMPANIES LIMITED 11 Oct 2013
    08728188 IYAAD CONSULTANCY LIMITED 11 Oct 2013
    08728725 RASEL & ASSOCIATES LIMITED 11 Oct 2013
    08729733 FINDCHEAPFLIGHTS.BIZ LIMITED 11 Oct 2013
    08730107 MOONTRENDS HOMES LTD 14 Oct 2013
    08732448 CASTLE MEAT & CO. LTD 15 Oct 2013
    08732658 BONHAMS ENTERPRISE LIMITED 15 Oct 2013
    08735740 ONE TOWER HAMLETS LTD 17 Oct 2013
    08736365 M WORKS LONDON LTD 17 Oct 2013