St Albans, Hertfordshire

2014 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • The second half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous second half year.
  • Q4 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous Q4.
  • December 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous December.
  • October 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous October.
  • November 2014 saw a new record in company closures in St Albans 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 (2014)

    A total of 1,485 companies were formed in St Albans in 2014. This total is 13.7% higher than in 2013 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 10.0% growth compared to 529,363 the previous year.

    YearSt AlbansUK
    20141,485582,051
    20131,306529,363
    20121,295491,893
    20111,206452,870
    20101,120400,358
    Record Year2007 (1,623)2014 (582,051)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The second half of 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 706 companies were formed in St Albans. This figure is 7.5% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 8.2%.

    The highest total for a second half year in St Albans occurred in 2014 when a total of 706 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St AlbansUK
    2014706281,320
    2013657259,931
    % change7.5%8.2%
    Record Year2014 (706)2014 (281,320)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Q4 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous Q4.

    A total of 361 companies were registered in St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is an increase of 13.2% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares equally to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 8.4% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)St AlbansUK
    2014361137,906
    2013319127,247
    % change13.2%8.4%
    Record Year 2014 (361) 2014 (137,906)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    December 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous December.

    October 2014 saw a new record in company registrations in St Albans when compared to any previous October.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2014140107114
    New companies in 2013107109103
    % change30.8%-1.8%10.7%
    Record Year2014 (140)2013 (109)2014 (114)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 1,071 companies were dissolved in St Albans in 2014. This total is 2.5% lower than in 2013 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 10.8% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearSt AlbansUK
    20141,071367,937
    20131,099332,213
    2012932293,729
    2011856314,524
    2010915342,233
    Record Year2009 (1,286)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 a total of 571 companies were dissolved in St Albans. This figure is 10.9% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 7.7%.

    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
    2014571190,730
    2013515177,021
    % change10.9%7.7%
    Record Year2009 (722)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    A total of 275 companies were dissolved in St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014).

    This figure is a decrease of 1.1% versus the same period last year (Q4 2013). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 2.0% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)St AlbansUK
    201427589,060
    201327890,851
    % change-1.1%-2.0%
    Record Year 2013 (278) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    November 2014 saw a new record in company closures in St Albans when compared to any previous November.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 20148810285
    Closed companies in 20131128680
    % change-21.4%18.6%6%
    Record Year2012 (114)2014 (102)2011 (100)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    A total of 414 companies were added to the company register for St Albans in 2014. This number represents growth of 27.9% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 36.8%.

    This number is 207 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
    2014414214,114
    2013207197,150
    2012363198,164
    2011350138,346
    201020558,125
    Record Year2007 (1,051)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 the company register for St Albans increased by 135 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St AlbansUK
    201413590,590
    201314282,910
    Record Year1994 (295)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    Net company growth for St Albans during the fourth quarter of 2014 (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014) was 86 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)St AlbansUK
    20148648,846
    20134136,396
    Record Year 2006 (94) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 201452529
    Net growth in 2013-52323
    Record Year1994 (59)1994 (56)1994 (43)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    In 2014 St Albans formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2013 when St Albans was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearSt Albans
    20140.3%
    20130.2%
    20120.3%
    20110.3%
    20100.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1994 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    In the second half of 2014 St Albans formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2013 figure of 0.3%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)St Albans
    20140.3%
    20130.3%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1994 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    In the fourth quarter of 2014, St Albans formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2014 - Dec 2014)St Albans
    20140.3%
    20130.3%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1991 (0.5%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2014)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20140.3%0.2%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20130.2%0.3%0.3%
    % change24.5%-6.8%-5.3%
    Record Year1992 (0.5%)1991 (0.5%)1991 (0.6%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The average age of a director in 2014 was 42.3.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 6.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.0%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2014 was 44.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.5% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.7% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2014 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 3.5% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2014)

    The record year for female directors in St Albans was 1947 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in St Albans in 2014 was 26.5%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.1%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2014)

    The record second half year for female directors in St Albans was 2007 when 32.1% of all directors were female.

    27.5% of all director appointments in St Albans in the second half of 2014 were female. This compares to a UK average of 26.1% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2014)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in St Albans was in 2005 when 31.9% of all directors were female.

    28.3% of all director appointments in St Albans in the fourth quarter of 2014 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.8% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2013-Dec 2014)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING2.14%CONSULTING5.22%
    MANAGEMENT2.09%MANAGEMENT4.58%
    CONSULTANCY1.39%CONSULTANCY3.57%
    ALBANS1.35%PROPERTY2.66%
    ST1.26%CONSTRUCTION2.12%
    PROPERTY0.93%ENGINEERING2.10%
    M0.93%CARE2.02%
    CARE0.84%TRADING1.94%
    MEDIA0.79%LONDON1.93%
    BUILDING0.74%TRANSPORT1.93%
    S0.70%DESIGN1.66%
    ELECTRICAL0.70%CONSULTANTS1.64%
    DESIGN0.70%ELECTRICAL1.62%
    ASSOCIATES0.65%PROPERTIES1.62%
    PROPERTIES0.65%BUSINESS1.56%
    IT0.65%J1.54%
    CONSTRUCTION0.65%CO.,1.50%
    MARKETING0.56%GLOBAL1.49%
    MEDICAL0.56%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    PROJECT0.51%ASSOCIATES1.47%
    RIGGING0.51%DEVELOPMENTS1.35%
    D0.51%MEDIA1.33%
    HOUSE0.46%IT1.31%
    PARTNERS0.46%BUILDING1.29%
    ENGINEERING0.46%M1.22%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied451265,608
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management22842,290
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified16258,068
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities13030,178
    99999 - Dormant Company8848,509
    86101 - Hospital activities774,366
    59113 - Television programme production activities622,288
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified5819,049
    86900 - Other human health activities5412,976
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified4529,009
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4112,837
    41100 - Development of building projects3711,397
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate3311,212
    62012 - Business and domestic software development339,752
    41202 - Construction of domestic buildings287,559
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities277,528
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified268,761
    74100 - specialised design activities244,841
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing245,931
    47910 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet2110,107

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    09297922 M & M SOLUTIONS DIRECT (UK) LIMITED 06 Nov 2014
    09300562 ETHICAL ERP LTD 07 Nov 2014
    09304942 RUBBER MANUFACTURING LIMITED 11 Nov 2014
    09306081 SELECT IMAGING LIMITED 11 Nov 2014
    09310573 WEDDINGS AND EVENTS SOLUTIONS LIMITED 14 Nov 2014
    09311111 DRAKELOWE LTD 14 Nov 2014
    09311202 CALSHER LIMITED 14 Nov 2014
    09318396 COSTAHARRIS EVENTS LTD 19 Nov 2014
    09318545 HELEN MUNRO WILD LIMITED 19 Nov 2014
    09321865 SONIUS SOLUTIONS LIMITED 21 Nov 2014
    09323243 HUNSTON PLANNING LIMITED 21 Nov 2014
    09323521 ALIQUA PROPERTY LIMITED 24 Nov 2014
    09323566 ALIQUA MANAGEMENT LIMITED 24 Nov 2014
    09332781 ELEVEN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED 28 Nov 2014
    09296094 MY ODE TO YOU LIMITED 05 Nov 2014
    09297638 S.J.ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS LIMITED 06 Nov 2014
    09309242 BANS MANAGEMENT LIMITED 13 Nov 2014
    09294287 SUNFLOWER SOCIAL WORK AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES LIMITED 04 Nov 2014
    09300142 TOWER SAFETY SYSTEMS LIMITED 07 Nov 2014
    09305284 VANESSA DAINTY LIMITED 11 Nov 2014
    09306942 RAIJA MCCORMICK LIMITED 12 Nov 2014
    09322635 DIAGIMAGE LTD 21 Nov 2014
    09325010 SOUTHDOWN CHIROPODY PRACTICE LIMITED 24 Nov 2014
    09327502 EAST GREEN FILMS LTD 25 Nov 2014
    09328895 PRT DESIGN LIMITED 26 Nov 2014