St Albans, Hertfordshire

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • The second half of 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous second half year.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous October.
  • October 2012 saw a new record in company closures in St Albans 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 (2012)

    A total of 1,295 companies were formed in St Albans in 2012. This total is 7.4% higher than in 2011 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearSt AlbansUK
    20121,295491,893
    20111,206452,870
    20101,120400,358
    20091,057362,675
    2008987349,203
    Record Year2007 (1,623)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 St Albans when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 591 companies were formed in St Albans. This figure is 7.1% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    The highest total for a second half year in St Albans occurred in 2012 when a total of 591 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St AlbansUK
    2012591238,743
    2011552224,135
    % change7.1%6.5%
    Record Year2012 (591)2012 (238,743)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 270 companies were registered in St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 2.3% versus the same period last year (Q4 2011). This figure compares badly 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)St AlbansUK
    2012270119,875
    2011264109,623
    % change2.3%9.4%
    Record Year 2009 (283) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 20121248957
    New companies in 20119610365
    % change29.2%-13.6%-12.3%
    Record Year2012 (124)2009 (108)2009 (86)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 932 companies were dissolved in St Albans in 2012. This total is 8.9% higher than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearSt AlbansUK
    2012932293,728
    2011856314,524
    2010915342,233
    20091,286533,787
    2008660237,873
    Record Year2009 (1,286)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 463 companies were dissolved in St Albans. This figure is 5.0% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    The highest total for a second half year in St Albans occurred in 2009 when a total of 722 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St AlbansUK
    2012463145,934
    2011441152,213
    % change5.0%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (722)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 225 companies were dissolved in St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 8.2% 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)St AlbansUK
    201222570,026
    201124579,983
    % change-8.2%-12.4%
    Record Year 2009 (271) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20121147338
    Closed companies in 20116184100
    % change86.9%-13.1%-62%
    Record Year2012 (114)2010 (90)2011 (100)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 363 companies were added to the company register for St Albans in 2012. This number represents growth of 30.1% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 13 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the St Albans company register grew by 1,051 companies.

    YearSt AlbansUK
    2012363198,165
    2011350138,346
    201020558,125
    2009-229-171,112
    2008327111,330
    Record Year2007 (1,051)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for St Albans increased by 128 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St AlbansUK
    201212892,809
    201111171,922
    Record Year1994 (295)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 45 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)St AlbansUK
    20124549,849
    20111929,640
    Record Year 1994 (158) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2012101619
    Net growth in 20113519-35
    Record Year2003 (55)2004 (53)1994 (43)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 St Albans formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2011 when St Albans was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearSt Albans
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1967 (0.6%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 St Albans formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2011 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St Albans
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    In the fourth quarter of 2012, St Albans formed 0.2% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)St Albans
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.3%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1960 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.3%0.2%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20110.2%0.3%0.2%
    % change8.5%-17.8%-14.6%
    Record Year1966 (1.0%)1972 (1.1%)1961 (1.0%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 44.2.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.5% compared to the UK figure of 3.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.7% 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 43.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.3% 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 42.4.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 6.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.5% 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 St Albans was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in St Albans in 2012 was 27.5%. 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 St Albans was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    33.1% of all director appointments in St Albans 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 St Albans was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    29.2% of all director appointments in St Albans 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
    CONSULTING3.34%CONSULTING5.15%
    MEDICAL1.87%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    MANAGEMENT1.47%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    CONSULTANCY1.22%PROPERTY2.40%
    ASSOCIATES1.01%TRADING2.03%
    PROPERTY0.96%DESIGN1.86%
    CONSULTANTS0.66%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    EVENTS0.66%ENGINEERING1.79%
    ENGINEERING0.56%BUSINESS1.76%
    LONDON0.51%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    DESIGN0.51%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    CONSTRUCTION0.51%LONDON1.69%
    MARKETING0.46%MEDIA1.69%
    FINANCIAL0.41%GLOBAL1.59%
    NETWORK0.41%J1.57%
    M0.41%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    IT0.41%IT1.43%
    PROPERTIES0.41%CARE1.39%
    S0.35%PROPERTIES1.34%
    J0.35%M1.26%
    MEDIA0.35%BUILDING1.23%
    MAINTENANCE0.35%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    CENTRE0.35%TRAINING1.18%
    ALBANS0.35%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    PROJECTS0.35%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied464236,139
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified20452,427
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management15130,396
    86101 - Hospital activities1162,187
    99999 - Dormant Company9840,648
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities8923,256
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified6815,572
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4612,291
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified4322,058
    41100 - Development of building projects327,980
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified266,419
    74990 - Non-trading company2313,808
    7487 - Other business activities2310,703
    98000 - Residents property management224,377
    59113 - Television programme production activities201,645
    43210 - Electrical installation195,304
    41202 - Construction of domestic buildings184,882
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities186,177
    70221 - Financial management172,188
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet176,307

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08279121 AS ASSOCIATES (UK) LTD 02 Nov 2012
    08281904 M&M SOLUTIONS DIRECT LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    OC379955 NEWROSE ARCHITECTS LLP 06 Nov 2012
    08285076 MENSPIRE LIMITED 07 Nov 2012
    08287244 EPASY LIMITED 09 Nov 2012
    08294305 LETMYFLAT LIMITED 15 Nov 2012
    08294466 BLUU PROPERTY LIMITED 15 Nov 2012
    08295681 EDEN SAGE LIMITED 15 Nov 2012
    08296861 231 STRINGS LIMITED 16 Nov 2012
    08297943 HRN LIMITED 19 Nov 2012
    08303097 WDB MARKETING LTD 22 Nov 2012
    08307679 MERCHANDISE AVENUE LIMITED 26 Nov 2012
    08311128 CALGOLD LIMITED 28 Nov 2012
    08279400 MAREMAL LIMITED 02 Nov 2012
    08282889 GARETH JOHNS LIMITED 06 Nov 2012
    08291485 GLAMTASTIC LTD 13 Nov 2012
    08300975 LORION LIMITED 20 Nov 2012
    08311462 ADRIAN CONSTRUCT LTD 28 Nov 2012
    08289131 COOK-KIT LTD 12 Nov 2012
    08298724 SPP FINANCIAL CONSULTING LIMITED 19 Nov 2012
    08313520 ISITT ANAESTHESIA LTD 29 Nov 2012
    08278480 T.ALLSOPP LIMITED 02 Nov 2012
    08283063 STEPPING STONE CHILDCARE LTD 06 Nov 2012
    08292765 FADS DESIGN LIMITED 14 Nov 2012
    08301736 LIVNATURAL LTD 21 Nov 2012