Watford, Hertfordshire

2010 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • October 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Watford 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 (2010)

    A total of 1,012 companies were formed in Watford in 2010. This total is 20.0% higher than in 2009 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 10.4% growth compared to 362,675 the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    20101,012400,358
    2009843362,675
    2008849349,203
    20071,607457,649
    20061,163405,440
    Record Year2007 (1,607)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 469 companies were formed in Watford. This figure is 15.5% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 8.8%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Watford occurred in 2006 when a total of 599 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    2010469196,609
    2009406180,654
    % change15.5%8.8%
    Record Year2006 (599)2003 (201,446)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 239 companies were registered in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is an increase of 29.9% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 10.6% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)WatfordUK
    201023995,117
    200918485,983
    % change29.9%10.6%
    Record Year 2007 (361) 2010 (95,117)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 2010888368
    New companies in 2009666157
    % change33.3%36.1%19.3%
    Record Year2007 (231)2006 (106)2006 (106)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 881 companies were dissolved in Watford in 2010. This total is 54.1% lower than in 2009 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 35.9% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    2010881342,232
    20091,919533,773
    2008779237,901
    2007587220,295
    2006491200,166
    Record Year2009 (1,919)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 a total of 429 companies were dissolved in Watford. This figure is 24.3% lower than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -32.7%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Watford occurred in 2009 when a total of 567 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    2010429164,601
    2009567244,537
    % change-24.3%-32.7%
    Record Year2009 (567)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    A total of 202 companies were dissolved in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010).

    This figure is a decrease of 0.5% versus the same period last year (Q4 2009). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw a decrease of 9.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)WatfordUK
    201020276,896
    200920385,136
    % change-0.5%-9.7%
    Record Year 2008 (254) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    October 2010 saw a new record in company closures in Watford when compared to any previous October.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2010848038
    Closed companies in 2009568067
    % change50.0%0.0%-43%
    Record Year2010 (84)2008 (124)2008 (89)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    A total of 131 companies were added to the company register for Watford in 2010. This number represents growth of 15.5% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 16.0%.

    This number is 1,207 companies higher than the previous year.

    The highest net company growth figure ever seen in one year came in 2007 when the Watford company register grew by 1,020 companies.

    YearWatfordUK
    201013158,126
    2009-1,076-171,098
    200870111,302
    20071,020237,354
    2006672205,274
    Record Year2007 (1,020)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 the company register for Watford increased by 40 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    20104032,008
    2009-161-63,883
    Record Year2006 (360)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    Net company growth for Watford during the fourth quarter of 2010 (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010) was 37 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)WatfordUK
    20103718,221
    2009-19847
    Record Year 2007 (184) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20104330
    Net growth in 200910-19-10
    Record Year2007 (168)2006 (65)2006 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    In 2010 Watford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2009 when Watford was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearWatford
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    20070.4%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960)1962 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    In the second half of 2010 Watford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2009 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Watford
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (0.8%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    In the fourth quarter of 2010, Watford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2010 - Dec 2010)Watford
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    20070.4%
    20060.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (1.0%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2010)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.2%0.3%
    UK formation share in 20090.2%0.2%0.2%
    % change16.8%21.6%13.5%
    Record Year1962 (1.9%)1970 (1.0%)1966 (0.9%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The average age of a director in 2010 was 42.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 1.9% compared to the UK figure of 2.5%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.5%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2010 was 43.4.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 2.5% compared to the UK figure of 2.8%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.4% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2010 was 41.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.1% compared to the UK figure of 3.0%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.2% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2010)

    The record year for female directors in Watford was 1857 when 36.4% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Watford in 2010 was 23.8%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.2%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2010)

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

    29.8% of all director appointments in Watford in the second half of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.0% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2010)

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

    30.4% of all director appointments in Watford in the fourth quarter of 2010 were female. This compares to a UK average of 24.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2009-Dec 2010)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING2.63%CONSULTING5.06%
    CONSULTANCY1.67%MANAGEMENT5.01%
    MANAGEMENT1.35%CONSULTANCY3.14%
    CONSULTANTS1.16%PROPERTY2.36%
    TRADING1.03%TRADING2.11%
    GLOBAL0.83%ASSOCIATES1.95%
    IT0.77%DESIGN1.92%
    SECURITY0.71%BUSINESS1.82%
    J0.71%CONSTRUCTION1.82%
    MEDIA0.71%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    BUSINESS0.71%MEDIA1.71%
    WATFORD0.64%ENGINEERING1.62%
    ELECTRICAL0.51%LONDON1.60%
    CONSTRUCTION0.51%CARE1.45%
    SYSTEMS0.51%INVESTMENTS1.44%
    BUILDING0.51%GLOBAL1.43%
    CARE0.51%J1.42%
    ASSOCIATES0.45%IT1.41%
    M0.45%PROPERTIES1.34%
    PROPERTIES0.45%INTERNATIONAL1.34%
    INTERNATIONAL0.45%BUILDING1.34%
    DESIGN0.45%M1.30%
    CLEANING0.45%ELECTRICAL1.25%
    RECRUITMENT0.39%SYSTEMS1.24%
    MEDICAL0.39%S1.23%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied468199,572
    7487 - Other business activities11763,348
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management6014,505
    7414 - Business & management consultancy5813,474
    9999 - Dormant Company5820,144
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified5027,550
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply487,298
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities389,177
    7499 - Non-trading company3012,000
    7260 - Other computer related activities288,089
    62090 - Other information technology service activities276,330
    99999 - Dormant Company2516,285
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified218,799
    9305 - Other service activities218,858
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering196,598
    4531 - Installation electrical wiring etc.162,170
    74990 - Non-trading company128,243
    43210 - Electrical installation122,980
    55100 - Hotels and similar accommodation12643
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities113,088

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07477946 SYNAPSE ARTS LIMITED 23 Dec 2010
    07466446 ALTWAY LIMITED 10 Dec 2010
    07461227 PREMIER EXPORTS LONDON LTD 06 Dec 2010
    07458548 GOLDGENIE GLOBAL LIMITED 02 Dec 2010
    07455932 HERTFORDSHIRE DYSPHAGIA SERVICES LIMITED 01 Dec 2010
    07479282 THOR ENTERPRISE LIMITED 29 Dec 2010
    07476659 SANDPLUS LTD 22 Dec 2010
    07474161 SEMANTICS CONSULTING SERVICES LTD 20 Dec 2010
    07464869 MJT COSTS LIMITED 09 Dec 2010
    07478488 PORTALDOCS LIMITED 29 Dec 2010
    07471092 PARTRIDGE PUBS LTD 15 Dec 2010
    07469337 J&J RAIL SERVICES LTD 14 Dec 2010
    07468719 HANOVER MEDICAL LTD 14 Dec 2010
    07464413 HARMONIA COURT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED 08 Dec 2010
    07460221 KAILAS CASHEW EXPORT LIMITED 03 Dec 2010
    07479821 CRYSTEL SERVICES LTD 30 Dec 2010
    07475606 ASIAN PARADISE RESTAURANTS LTD 21 Dec 2010
    07471538 JEAN PARFUMS MARKETING LTD 16 Dec 2010
    07471479 JEAN PARFUMS WORLDWIDE LTD 16 Dec 2010
    07463035 HILTON WORLDWIDE SERVICES LIMITED 07 Dec 2010
    07462067 HILTON WORLDWIDE MANAGE LIMITED 07 Dec 2010
    07477994 GLOBETROTTER INSULATION LTD 23 Dec 2010
    07477881 METAL TRADER LIMITED 23 Dec 2010
    07477852 UK SCRAP METAL LIMITED 23 Dec 2010
    07476705 KOKO CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED 22 Dec 2010