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Watford, Hertfordshire

2011 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • November 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford 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 (2011)

    A total of 1,118 companies were formed in Watford in 2011. This total is 10.5% higher than in 2010 and compares equally to the UK figure of a 13.1% growth compared to 400,358 the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    20111,118452,870
    20101,012400,358
    2009843362,675
    2008849349,203
    20071,607457,649
    Record Year2007 (1,607)2007 (457,649)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 533 companies were formed in Watford. This figure is 13.6% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 14.0%.

    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
    2011533224,135
    2010469196,609
    % change13.6%14.0%
    Record Year2006 (599)2011 (224,135)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    A total of 257 companies were registered in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is an increase of 7.5% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares badly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 15.3% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)WatfordUK
    2011257109,623
    201023995,117
    % change7.5%15.3%
    Record Year 2007 (361) 2011 (109,623)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    November 2011 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford when compared to any previous November.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 20117211273
    New companies in 2010888368
    % change-18.2%34.9%7.4%
    Record Year2007 (231)2011 (112)2006 (106)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 737 companies were dissolved in Watford in 2011. This total is 16.3% lower than in 2010 and compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    2011737314,523
    2010881342,232
    20091,919533,773
    2008779237,901
    2007587220,295
    Record Year2009 (1,919)2009 (533,773)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 a total of 382 companies were dissolved in Watford. This figure is 11.0% lower than last year, which compares well to the UK wide change of -7.5%.

    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
    2011382152,213
    2010429164,601
    % change-11.0%-7.5%
    Record Year2009 (567)2009 (244,537)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    A total of 200 companies were dissolved in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011).

    This figure is a decrease of 1.0% versus the same period last year (Q4 2010). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 4.0% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)WatfordUK
    201120079,983
    201020276,896
    % change-1.0%4.0%
    Record Year 2008 (254) 2009 (85,136)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2011467876
    Closed companies in 2010848038
    % change-45.2%-2.5%100%
    Record Year2010 (84)2008 (124)2008 (89)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    A total of 381 companies were added to the company register for Watford in 2011. This number represents growth of 37.6% in the total number of active companies, which compares favourably to the UK figure of 34.6%.

    This number is 250 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
    2011381138,347
    201013158,126
    2009-1,076-171,098
    200870111,302
    20071,020237,354
    Record Year2007 (1,020)2003 (242,543)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 the company register for Watford increased by 151 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    201115171,922
    20104032,008
    Record Year2006 (360)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    Net company growth for Watford during the fourth quarter of 2011 (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011) was 57 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)WatfordUK
    20115729,640
    20103718,221
    Record Year 2007 (184) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20112634-3
    Net growth in 20104330
    Record Year2007 (168)2006 (65)2006 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    In 2011 Watford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is a decline on 2010 when Watford was responsible for 0.3% of all UK companies.

    YearWatford
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    20070.4%
    Record Year (since 1960)1962 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    In the second half of 2011 Watford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is the same as the 2010 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Watford
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    20070.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (0.8%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    In the fourth quarter of 2011, Watford formed 0.2% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011)Watford
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    20070.4%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (1.0%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2011)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20110.2%0.3%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20100.3%0.2%0.3%
    % change-28.9%14.9%-4.8%
    Record Year1962 (1.9%)1970 (1.0%)1966 (0.9%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    The average age of a director in 2011 was 41.5.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2011 was 40.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 5.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.3% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 40.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 7.6% compared to the UK figure of 4.2%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 2.9% compared to the UK figure of 4.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2011)

    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 2011 was 25.9%. The average for the UK during this time was 28.6%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2011)

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

    26.8% of all director appointments in Watford in the second half of 2011 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.7% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2011)

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

    25.6% of all director appointments in Watford in the fourth quarter of 2011 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 2010-Dec 2011)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING2.71%CONSULTING5.07%
    MANAGEMENT2.41%MANAGEMENT4.74%
    CONSULTANCY1.93%CONSULTANCY3.26%
    WATFORD1.02%PROPERTY2.37%
    INVESTMENTS1.02%TRADING2.07%
    CONSTRUCTION0.84%DESIGN1.92%
    CONSULTANTS0.72%ASSOCIATES1.86%
    PROPERTY0.66%ENGINEERING1.78%
    GLOBAL0.66%BUSINESS1.78%
    IT0.60%CONSULTANTS1.76%
    BUSINESS0.54%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    MEDIA0.54%MEDIA1.71%
    TRADING0.54%LONDON1.63%
    LONDON0.48%J1.51%
    MAINTENANCE0.48%INVESTMENTS1.48%
    MARKETING0.48%GLOBAL1.46%
    M0.48%IT1.41%
    BUILDING0.48%CARE1.39%
    ASSET0.42%PROPERTIES1.29%
    P0.42%ELECTRICAL1.29%
    TECHNOLOGIES0.42%M1.27%
    CO0.42%BUILDING1.26%
    TEST0.42%ENERGY1.25%
    HOUSE0.42%S1.20%
    MY0.42%ENTERPRISES1.20%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied453205,525
    7487 - Other business activities10857,052
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management9917,765
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified5832,483
    7414 - Business & management consultancy5413,034
    7222 - Other software consultancy and supply497,398
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities4912,072
    9999 - Dormant Company4820,199
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified3611,768
    99999 - Dormant Company3221,846
    62090 - Other information technology service activities317,493
    7260 - Other computer related activities287,667
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities223,633
    9305 - Other service activities229,492
    7499 - Non-trading company199,957
    74990 - Non-trading company188,929
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified178,671
    86900 - Other human health activities124,457
    4521 - General construction & civil engineering125,558
    62012 - Business and domestic software development113,714

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    07836179 PRS (TWICKENHAM) LIMITED 04 Nov 2011
    07839301 WEBBCON CONSTRUCTION LIMITED 08 Nov 2011
    07840411 TOTAL SALES CONSULTANCY LIMITED 09 Nov 2011
    07845870 CAFALL CONSULTING LIMITED 14 Nov 2011
    07861956 MEAD MEDIA LIMITED 28 Nov 2011
    07863629 NICHOLAS DALE LIMITED 29 Nov 2011
    07834129 BLUE HOUSE HIRE LIMITED 03 Nov 2011
    07840605 LCD DISPATCH LTD 09 Nov 2011
    07841355 MANOR INVESTMENTS LIMITED 09 Nov 2011
    07844995 IMPERIAL AUTO SERVICES LTD 11 Nov 2011
    07845502 INTERSENTINEL LTD. 11 Nov 2011
    07848235 UNISHAW LIMITED 15 Nov 2011
    07850568 IT SPECIALISTS 4U LIMITED 17 Nov 2011
    07866070 FREEDOM TMT LIMITED 30 Nov 2011
    07831573 ROBAIRE LIMITED 02 Nov 2011
    07846318 JEMIMAH LIMITED 14 Nov 2011
    07846784 CARTER VIEW CONSULTING LIMITED 14 Nov 2011
    07833892 TEST PLAN 10 LIMITED 03 Nov 2011
    07846040 FANTASIA EVENTS LTD 14 Nov 2011
    07848213 KARSTEN TOMKINS LIMITED 15 Nov 2011
    07848228 ASCENCIA FIRE CONSULTING LIMITED 15 Nov 2011
    07852359 PENNYS TRANSPORT LIMITED 18 Nov 2011
    07855452 MANTLE NEDRY LTD 21 Nov 2011
    07860775 FAST FREE BET LTD 25 Nov 2011
    07862982 OSWY LTD 28 Nov 2011