Comprehensive Online Business Insurance
Tailored PI, Office, Public & Employers' Liability Insurance
Are you covered? Read our Essential PI Guide
Get a Quote and buy online in minutes

Pre-"crunch" statistics show record number of startups last year

print  e-mail 

The latest Government statistics show that the number of VAT-registered enterprises grew by 3% during 2007, reaching over 2 million by the start of 2008.

The statistics, released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) last week are regarded as the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. They are an indicator of the level of entrepreneurship and of the health of the business population.

It goes without saying that, as these statistics relate to a time period before the economic downturn kicked in, we could well see a different picture of the health of business start-ups when the next statistics are released.

VAT Registrations - Key Points

  • The stock of VAT-registered enterprises increased by 57,900 (3%) during 2007, to reach 2.03 million at the start of 2008. There has been an increase in the stock of VAT-registered enterprises in every year since 1995, resulting in a 26 percent rise in the number of VAT registered businesses between the start of 1995 and the start of 2008.
  • In 2007, there were 205,700 new registrations - an increase of 13 percent on 2006 levels, and the highest number recorded since the series began in 1941. There were 147,800 de-registrations in 2007 - an increase of two per cent on 2006 levels.
  • All regions and countries, and all but two major industrial sectors (agriculture and manufacturing), saw an increase in the stock of VAT- registered enterprises in 2007. All regions and countries and most industrial sectors saw an increase in the number of VAT registrations compared with 2006, and most regions, countries and industrial sectors saw an increase in the number of de-registrations.
  • There have been increases in the stock of VAT-registered enterprises in every year since 1995, resulting in a 26 percent rise in the number of VAT registered businesses between the start of 1995 and the start of 2008.
  • The number of new registrations increased by 23,700 (13%) between 2006 and 2007 to 205,700, and the number of de-registrations increased by 3,500 (2%) over the same period to 147,800. This is the highest number of new registrations recorded in the period covered by the BERR publication (1994-2007). In 2007, there were 42 new registrations and 30 de-registrations for every 10,000 people aged 16 or over in the UK.
You can read the full results, in amazing detail, at the BERR site here.

Posted December 2, 2008

Latest articles in Business Statistics
 
Number of company liquidations could hit highest level since 1992
The number of companies entering liquidation in 2009 – 2010 is set to be the highest since 1992, however a leading accountancy group says that the numbers could have been worse had it not been for unprecedented measures taken by the Government at the height of the recession. [April 12, 2010]
 
'Dragon' entrepreneurs don't reflect reality according to poll
According to an in-depth survey of business owners and advisers from Nottingham Business School, the way entrepreneurs are depicted in the media does not reflect the reality of starting up and running a business. [February 23, 2010]
 
Business failure numbers continue to fall
Equifax has reported that business failure numbers at the start of 2010 have continued the downward trend that started towards the end of last year. [February 21, 2010]
 
SMEs regaining confidence in own businesses, but not the general economy
New data shows that the UK''s small companies are continuing to regain confidence in their own trading prospects. However, optimism in the overall economy waned in the last quarter of 2009 suggesting that SMEs feel the recession is not yet over. [January 14, 2010]
 
Firms predict return to economic growth in Summer 2010
A major survey of 11,000 companies across 15 countries concludes that a strong return to economic growth is not expected to start until summer 2010. The UK firms included in the study are less optimistic than the average. [October 26, 2009]
 
Rebound in optimism for small business owners
After 18 months of negative optimism, a Continental Research study suggests that confidence in both the general economy and own trading prospects is returning amongst small businesses. [June 23, 2009]
 
UK economy can expect a "slow and gradual" return to growth
Following the release of several 'upbeat' economic reports in recent weeks, the CBI says that the worst is over, but a return to growth is likely to be a subdued and gradual affair. [June 15, 2009]
 
Most small companies have not been profitable in 2009
New research shows that 19% of SMEs have not recorded a profit since the second quarter of 2008, and unsurprisingly 55% have not been profitable at all in 2009. [May 6, 2009]
 
Number of new enterprises remained steady in 2008
Statistics released by Barclays show that the number of new businesses set up during 2008 increased on 2007 levels, with female-run startups showing a 9% increase. [April 3, 2009]
 
UK small companies "more pessimistic" than overseas counterparts
Research from leading accountancy firm shows that small businesses in the UK are far more pessimistic than companies from the rest of the world about when the economy will recover. [March 27, 2009]
 
Business confidence may be showing first signs of recovery
A new report suggests that business confidence may have started to rise for the first time in over a year. However, the outlook for employment continues to fall. [March 3, 2009]
 
Pre-"crunch" statistics show record number of startups last year
The latest Government statistics show that the number of VAT-registered enterprises grew by 3% during 2007, reaching over 2 million by the start of 2008. [December 2, 2008]
 
Average family sees lifetime tax bill soar by 6% over past year
The TaxPayers' Alliance has published startling new research which shows that the average family faces a lifetime tax bill of £668,000 - a huge 6% rise on last year's figure. [October 7, 2008]
 
How many business enterprises are there in the UK?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest report on the number of registered businesses in the UK. There was a 3% rise in business enterprise numbers in the year to March 2008. [October 2, 2008]
 
Some businesses have seen their costs soar by 25% in one year
New research has revealed that 10% of businesses have seen their costs soar by over a quarter in the last twelve months. One quarter of UK companies have seen a 10% hike in their costs over the same period. [September 30, 2008]
 


Click Here




Our Partners
Key Services
Key Services
Useful Guides
Archived News
Click Here