Watford, Hertfordshire

2012 Annual Business Confidence Report

Headlines

  • October 2012 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 (2012)

    A total of 1,165 companies were formed in Watford in 2012. This total is 4.2% higher than in 2011 and compares poorly to the UK figure of a 8.6% growth compared to 452,870 the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    20121,165491,893
    20111,118452,870
    20101,012400,358
    2009843362,675
    2008849349,203
    Record Year2007 (1,607)2012 (491,893)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 548 companies were formed in Watford. This figure is 2.8% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide figure of 6.5%.

    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
    2012548238,743
    2011533224,135
    % change2.8%6.5%
    Record Year2006 (599)2012 (238,743)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 258 companies were registered in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is an increase of 0.4% 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)WatfordUK
    2012258119,875
    2011257109,623
    % change0.4%9.4%
    Record Year 2007 (361) 2012 (119,875)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 20121136976
    New companies in 20117211273
    % change56.9%-38.4%4.1%
    Record Year2007 (231)2011 (112)2006 (106)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 775 companies were dissolved in Watford in 2012. This total is 4.9% higher than in 2011 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 6.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    2012775293,728
    2011739314,524
    2010883342,233
    20091,920533,787
    2008783237,873
    Record Year2009 (1,920)2009 (533,787)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 a total of 401 companies were dissolved in Watford. This figure is 4.7% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of -4.1%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Watford occurred in 2009 when a total of 566 were closed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    2012401145,934
    2011383152,213
    % change4.7%-4.1%
    Record Year2009 (566)2009 (244,543)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    A total of 185 companies were dissolved in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012).

    This figure is a decrease of 7.5% 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)WatfordUK
    201218570,026
    201120079,983
    % change-7.5%-12.4%
    Record Year 2008 (255) 2009 (85,139)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

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

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2012935240
    Closed companies in 2011467876
    % change102.2%-33.3%-47%
    Record Year2012 (93)2008 (125)2008 (89)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    A total of 390 companies were added to the company register for Watford in 2012. This number represents growth of 34.9% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 43.8%.

    This number is 11 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
    2012390198,165
    2011379138,346
    201012958,125
    2009-1,077-171,112
    200866111,330
    Record Year2007 (1,020)2003 (242,541)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

    In the second half of 2012 the company register for Watford increased by 147 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    201214792,809
    201115071,922
    Record Year2006 (359)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

    Net company growth for Watford during the fourth quarter of 2012 (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012) was 73 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)WatfordUK
    20127349,849
    20115729,640
    Record Year 2007 (185) 2003 (57,175)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 2012201736
    Net growth in 20112634-3
    Record Year2007 (168)2006 (66)2006 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    In 2012 Watford formed 0.2% of all UK companies. This is no change on 2011 when Watford was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearWatford
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)1962 (0.7%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2012)

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

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Watford
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (0.8%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2012)

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

    fourth quarter (Oct 2012 - Dec 2012)Watford
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    20080.3%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1962 (1.0%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2012)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20120.2%0.2%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20110.2%0.3%0.2%
    % change31.9%-41.4%1.3%
    Record Year1962 (1.9%)1970 (1.0%)1966 (0.9%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2012)

    The average age of a director in 2012 was 41.4.

    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 2.8% 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 41.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 4.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.3%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.9% 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 40.1.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 6.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.4%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 3.8% 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 Watford was 1860 when 35.7% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Watford in 2012 was 27.0%. 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 Watford was 1860 when 42.9% of all directors were female.

    23.4% of all director appointments in Watford 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 Watford was in 1977 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    23.9% of all director appointments in Watford 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
    CONSULTING1.97%CONSULTING5.15%
    CONSULTANCY1.35%MANAGEMENT4.78%
    MANAGEMENT1.30%CONSULTANCY3.31%
    ASSOCIATES0.96%PROPERTY2.40%
    PROPERTY0.96%TRADING2.03%
    WATFORD0.90%DESIGN1.86%
    BUSINESS0.79%ASSOCIATES1.82%
    CONSULTANTS0.79%ENGINEERING1.79%
    IT0.73%BUSINESS1.76%
    CARE0.56%CONSULTANTS1.75%
    TRADING0.56%CONSTRUCTION1.69%
    CONSTRUCTION0.56%LONDON1.69%
    TECHNOLOGY0.56%MEDIA1.69%
    MARKETING0.56%GLOBAL1.59%
    SERVICE0.51%J1.57%
    ELECTRICAL0.45%INVESTMENTS1.46%
    ENTERPRISES0.45%IT1.43%
    SYSTEMS0.45%CARE1.39%
    LONDON0.45%PROPERTIES1.34%
    INVESTMENTS0.45%M1.26%
    MEDIA0.39%BUILDING1.23%
    FINANCIAL0.39%ENTERPRISES1.21%
    BUILDING0.39%TRAINING1.18%
    GLOBAL0.39%ELECTRICAL1.17%
    PROPERTIES0.39%SECURITY1.17%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied568236,139
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management15430,396
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities11623,256
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified9052,427
    99999 - Dormant Company6540,648
    62090 - Other information technology service activities5512,291
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified5422,058
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities316,177
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified2915,572
    7487 - Other business activities1810,703
    74990 - Non-trading company1813,808
    43210 - Electrical installation175,304
    62012 - Business and domestic software development177,446
    41100 - Development of building projects167,980
    41202 - Construction of domestic buildings164,882
    86900 - Other human health activities147,866
    64999 - Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified144,537
    68310 - Real estate agencies143,270
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified136,419
    56302 - Public houses and bars134,543

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08238080 BLACKBIRD CAPITAL LIMITED 03 Oct 2012
    08258078 AITCH PLANT AND EQUIPMENT LIMITED 18 Oct 2012
    08263022 TOTAL BUSINESSES SOLUTIONS LTD 22 Oct 2012
    08267432 REHAB WATFORD LIMITED 25 Oct 2012
    08267519 REHAB BRISTOL LIMITED 25 Oct 2012
    08269759 VIZION3 DIGITAL MEDIAZ LTD 26 Oct 2012
    OC379756 THE LION PACK 2012 LLP 29 Oct 2012
    08272275 BINGO CONSTRUCTION LTD. 29 Oct 2012
    08236140 PRIME MARKETING CONSULTANTS LTD 02 Oct 2012
    08243580 PARK END BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED 08 Oct 2012
    08250576 SECRET RECRUIT LIMITED 12 Oct 2012
    08251926 VISIONARY GOURMET LTD 12 Oct 2012
    08261705 SELF HELP SCHEME LTD 22 Oct 2012
    08266170 REDDEVILSOL LIMITED 24 Oct 2012
    08272681 NUMBER 4 HIGH STREET LIMITED 30 Oct 2012
    08241579 THE BACKPACKER EXPERIENCE LIMITED 05 Oct 2012
    08262368 WASHED OUT LIMITED 22 Oct 2012
    08267426 PENGUIN SERVICING LIMITED 25 Oct 2012
    08271596 21ST CENTURY HOMEOPATHY LIMITED 29 Oct 2012
    08275103 SAMPO SYSTEMS LIMITED 31 Oct 2012
    08240037 KAM SIRA LTD 04 Oct 2012
    08243084 P&L ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS LIMITED 08 Oct 2012
    08265763 BATESMA LIMITED 23 Oct 2012
    08268573 A&P PLUMBING AND HEATING LIMITED 25 Oct 2012
    08275393 JKN CONSULTING LTD 31 Oct 2012