Watford, Hertfordshire

2013 Annual Business Confidence Report

NOTICE: We have improved our calculations of the statistics in these reports, so some figures and records may not match previous reports.

Headlines

  • The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford when compared to any previous second half year.
  • November 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford when compared to any previous November.
  • December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in Watford when compared to any previous December.

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 (2013)

    A total of 1,438 companies were formed in Watford in 2013. This total is 23.5% higher than in 2012 and compares favourably to the UK figure of a 7.6% growth compared to 491,893 the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    20131,438529,363
    20121,164491,893
    20111,118452,870
    20101,012400,358
    2009843362,675
    Record Year2007 (1,607)2013 (529,363)
    New Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The second half of 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford when compared to any previous second half year.

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 778 companies were formed in Watford. This figure is 42.2% higher than last year, which compares well to the UK wide figure of 8.9%.

    The highest total for a second half year in Watford occurred in 2013 when a total of 778 were formed.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    2013778259,931
    2012547238,743
    % change42.2%8.9%
    Record Year2013 (778)2013 (259,931)
    New Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    A total of 353 companies were registered in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 37.4% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares well to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 6.1% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)WatfordUK
    2013353127,247
    2012257119,875
    % change37.4%6.1%
    Record Year 2007 (361) 2013 (127,247)
    New Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    November 2013 saw a new record in company registrations in Watford when compared to any previous November.

    New Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    New companies in 201313613879
    New companies in 20121136975
    % change20.4%100.0%5.3%
    Record Year2007 (231)2013 (138)2006 (106)

Closed Companies (dissolved)

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 955 companies were dissolved in Watford in 2013. This total is 23.2% higher than in 2012 and compares favourably to the UK figure of 13.1% growth compared to the previous year.

    YearWatfordUK
    2013955332,213
    2012775293,729
    2011739314,524
    2010883342,233
    20091,920533,789
    Record Year2009 (1,920)2009 (533,789)
    Dissolved Companies by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 a total of 489 companies were dissolved in Watford. This figure is 21.9% higher than last year, which compares badly to the UK wide change of 21.3%.

    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
    2013489177,021
    2012401145,935
    % change21.9%21.3%
    Record Year2009 (566)2009 (244,544)
    Dissolved Companies by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    A total of 245 companies were dissolved in Watford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013).

    This figure is an increase of 32.4% versus the same period last year (Q4 2012). This figure compares poorly to the UK as a whole, which saw an increase of 29.7% against the same period last year.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)WatfordUK
    201324590,851
    201218570,027
    % change32.4%29.7%
    Record Year 2008 (255) 2013 (90,851)
    Dissolved Companies by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    December 2013 saw a new record in company closures in Watford when compared to any previous December.

    Dissolved Companies by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Closed companies in 2013747794
    Closed companies in 2012935240
    % change-20.4%48.1%135%
    Record Year2012 (93)2008 (125)2013 (94)

Net Company Growth

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    A total of 483 companies were added to the company register for Watford in 2013. This number represents growth of 33.6% in the total number of active companies, which compares unfavourably to the UK figure of 37.2%.

    This number is 94 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
    2013483197,150
    2012389198,164
    2011379138,346
    201012958,125
    2009-1,077-171,114
    Record Year2007 (1,020)2007 (237,353)
    Net Growth by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 the company register for Watford increased by 289 companies.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)WatfordUK
    201328982,910
    201214692,808
    Record Year2006 (359)2003 (117,772)
    Net Growth by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    Net company growth for Watford during the fourth quarter of 2013 (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013) was 108 companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)WatfordUK
    201310836,396
    20127249,848
    Record Year 2007 (185) 2012 (49,848)
    Net Growth by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Net Growth by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    Net growth in 20136261-15
    Net growth in 2012201735
    Record Year2007 (168)2006 (66)2006 (88)

UK Company Share

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    In 2013 Watford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is an improvement on 2012 when Watford was responsible for 0.2% of all UK companies.

    YearWatford
    20130.3%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    Record Year (since 1960)2007 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    In the second half of 2013 Watford formed 0.3% of all UK companies. This is more than the 2012 figure of 0.2%.

    Half Year (Jul-Dec)Watford
    20130.3%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.2%
    20090.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 1992 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    In the fourth quarter of 2013, Watford formed 0.3% of all UK companies.

    fourth quarter (Oct 2013 - Dec 2013)Watford
    20130.3%
    20120.2%
    20110.2%
    20100.3%
    20090.2%
    Record Year (since 1960) 2007 (0.4%)
    Company Share by Quarter
  4. Monthly Data (Oct, Nov & Dec 2013)

    Company Share by Month
    OctoberNovemberDecember
    UK formation share in 20130.3%0.3%0.2%
    UK formation share in 20120.2%0.2%0.2%
    % change11.9%96.5%-4.2%
    Record Year2007 (0.7%)2013 (0.3%)1990 (0.6%)

Director Age

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The average age of a director in 2013 was 42.7.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.8% compared to the UK figure of 3.9%.

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

    Director Age by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the second half of 2013 was 41.9.

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

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.8% compared to the UK figure of 4.8%.

    Director Age by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The average age of a director in the fourth quarter of 2013 was 41.9.

    The percentage of directors under the age of 25 was 3.2% compared to the UK figure of 3.7%.

    The percentage of directors over the age of 65 was 4.9% compared to the UK figure of 5.1%.

    Director Age by Quarter

Director Gender

  1. Annual Data (2013)

    The record year for female directors in Watford was 1970 when 100.0% of all directors were female.

    The percentage of female directors in Watford in 2013 was 25.1%. The average for the UK during this time was 26.0%

    Director Gender by Year
  2. Half Year Data (Jul-Dec 2013)

    The record second half year for female directors in Watford was 2010 when 28.4% of all directors were female.

    24.2% of all director appointments in Watford in the second half of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.9% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Half Year
  3. Quarterly Data (Q4 Oct-Dec 2013)

    The record fourth quarter for female directors in Watford was in 2012 when 31.2% of all directors were female.

    26.9% of all director appointments in Watford in the fourth quarter of 2013 were female. This compares to a UK average of 25.6% for the same period.

    Director Gender by Quarter

Naming Trends

  1. Previous 12 months (Dec 2012-Dec 2013)

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

    wordpercentageuk worduk percentage
    CONSULTING2.40%CONSULTING5.22%
    CONSULTANCY1.63%MANAGEMENT4.72%
    MANAGEMENT1.54%CONSULTANCY3.45%
    PROPERTY1.06%PROPERTY2.59%
    WATFORD1.06%TRADING2.08%
    CARE0.82%ENGINEERING1.87%
    LONDON0.77%LONDON1.86%
    NUTRA0.67%DESIGN1.76%
    SECURITY0.62%CONSTRUCTION1.73%
    IT0.62%CARE1.73%
    INVESTMENTS0.62%BUSINESS1.71%
    DAIRY0.62%CONSULTANTS1.68%
    DESIGN0.62%GLOBAL1.58%
    MEDIA0.62%INVESTMENTS1.56%
    PROPERTIES0.58%PROPERTIES1.54%
    ELECTRICAL0.58%ASSOCIATES1.53%
    TRADING0.58%J1.51%
    PROJECTS0.53%MEDIA1.50%
    BUSINESS0.53%IT1.35%
    ASSOCIATES0.53%DEVELOPMENTS1.23%
    CONSULTANTS0.53%M1.23%
    CONSTRUCTION0.53%BUILDING1.21%
    PRODUCTIONS0.53%ELECTRICAL1.20%
    DEVELOPMENTS0.48%CAPITAL1.19%
    J0.48%ENERGY1.14%

SIC Data

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

    sic codenumber of companiesuk companies
    None Supplied654266,814
    70229 - Management consultancy activities other than financial management14236,164
    62020 - Information technology consultancy activities11827,183
    82990 - Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified9455,342
    99999 - Dormant Company8246,762
    96090 - Other service activities not elsewhere classified6826,001
    62090 - Other information technology service activities4312,511
    74909 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified3018,034
    41100 - Development of building projects289,485
    62012 - Business and domestic software development289,360
    69201 - Accounting and auditing activities257,075
    74990 - Non-trading company2314,223
    43390 - Other building completion and finishing225,405
    68209 - Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate218,733
    86900 - Other human health activities219,543
    41202 - Construction of domestic buildings206,191
    56290 - Other food services193,837
    78109 - Other activities of employment placement agencies173,736
    43999 - Other specialised construction activities not elsewhere classified167,823
    70221 - Financial management153,085

Recent Companies

  1. Randomly selected companies from this quarter

    COMPANY NUMBERCOMPANY NAMEINCORPORATION DATE
    08797864 REECH LTD 02 Dec 2013
    08800748 THE HOME MOVE SERVICE LIMITED 03 Dec 2013
    08802310 COCOTTE LIMITED 04 Dec 2013
    08807157 LIGHTWEIGHT INTEGRATION LIMITED 09 Dec 2013
    08809095 DG MOTORSPORT LIMITED 10 Dec 2013
    08810546 ACKERMAN PIERCE LIMITED 11 Dec 2013
    08814373 RESULTS IG (USA) LIMITED 13 Dec 2013
    08818455 MKALIPI CARE SERVICES LIMITED 17 Dec 2013
    08822651 GRACEWELL HEALTHCARE 5 LIMITED 20 Dec 2013
    08801371 JETYRES SHARES LIMITED 03 Dec 2013
    08804636 UNIVERSAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT LIMITED 06 Dec 2013
    08814675 SYMCLOUD LIMITED 13 Dec 2013
    OC389925 THINGRASS SERVICES LLP 16 Dec 2013
    08816833 S. L. FOOD CITY LTD 16 Dec 2013
    08821934 INGATO LTD 19 Dec 2013
    08827966 RENTED REVIEW LIMITED 30 Dec 2013
    08828454 CONSCIOUS WEALTH LIMITED 31 Dec 2013
    08800208 AC FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES LIMITED 03 Dec 2013
    08827253 MJ STYLING LIMITED 30 Dec 2013
    08806821 SEDUIRE LONDON BEAUTY CLINIC LIMITED 09 Dec 2013
    08809354 DBS ELECTRICAL & CONTROLS LTD 10 Dec 2013
    08811406 JK SONS TRADING LTD 11 Dec 2013
    08817588 PONS TRAVEL LTD 17 Dec 2013
    08799587 PROPERTY SYNERGY LTD 03 Dec 2013
    08803512 SEEMEEHIREME LTD 05 Dec 2013