Report December 2021

In a nutshell

We analyse Companies House “basic company data” up to the November 30th, 2021. We note more company registration relative to October 2021. The firm creation among active firms remains stronger than the same period in 2019.

Highlights

  1. Business creation increased 4.3% between October 2021 and November 2021.
  2. Business creation was 2.1% lower in November 2021 than in November 2020.
  3. The largest number of company registrations occurs in ‘Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ and ‘Transportation and storage’.

Aggregate Analysis

Daily

The chart below shows the daily company incorporations in the UK since January 2020. The lockdown periods correspond to our key dates timeline.

Jan 2020Apr 2020Jul 2020Oct 2020Jan 2021Apr 2021Jul 2021Oct 2021050010001500200025003000350040004500
Median (total)Median (during lockdown I)Median (post-lockdown I)Median (during lockdown II)Median (post-lockdown II)Median (during lockdown III)Median (post-lockdown III)Daily Company RegistrationsNumber of registrations
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  • Business creation increased by 4.3% between October and November 2021.
  • 26,248 additional companies were registered in November 2021 relative to November 2019.
  • 1,411 less company registrations are noticed in November 2021 relative to November 2020.
  • The median daily registrations were 65% higher in November 2021 than November 2019.

The chart below shows the rolling average of firm creation since January 2019. Shaded areas correspond to lockdown periods as shown our key dates timeline.

Jul 2019Jan 2020Jul 2020Jan 2021Jul 2021050010001500200025003000
7-day rolling average of company registrationsNumber of registrations
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Relative

Company registrations persistently exceed their 2019 levels. However, we notice a slowdown, which persists the last few months.

10203040500.511.522.5
2021/20192020/2019Ratio of company registrations​(Same week of reference in 2019)​WeeksRatio
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November

Daily average company registrations in November 2021 are 2.1% lower than November 2020, but 67% higher than November 2019 among the active firms.

201920202021050010001500200025003000
Daily median company registrations in NovemberNumber of registrations
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Regional Analysis

Postcode Area

The map shows the average percentage change in new registrations in November 2021 compared to November 2019.

Country

The following graph aggregates business creation by country. London, followed by Wales, dominates business registrations.

10203040050100150200250
England (excl. Ldn) (excl. Ldn)Northern IrelandScotlandWalesLondonChange of company registrations in November by Country​(Same week of reference in 2019)​Weeks% change
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London

Within London, most of the business creation in November 2021 comes from Central, South East and East London.

102030400100200300400500
Central LondonEast LondonNorth LondonSouth East LondonSouth West LondonWest LondonChange of company registrations in November by London Areas​(Same week of reference in 2019)​Weeks% change
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Sectoral Analysis

SIC Sections

The graph illustrates company registrations in November 2021 relative to 2019 by industrial sector. It compares the percentage change in 2021 relative to 2019 for each week of the year. We use 4-digit SIC levels (ONS “Classes”) and group them into broader sectors (ONS “Sections”). We use the ONS classification. We show a selection of sectors that present notable changes.

51015202530354045−50050100150200
ManufacturingTransportation and storageWholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcyclesChange of company registrations by sector​(Same week of reference in 2019)​Weeks% change
  • November 2021 retains higher firm creation in most sectors than November 2019.
  • ‘Wholesale, and Retail Trade’ and ‘Transportation and storage’ sectors show the greatest increase in firm creation in November 2021.
  • Compared to November 2019, in November 2021 there is more than a 300% increase in business creation for ‘Combined office administrative service activities’, ‘Publishing of computer games’, `Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets' and ‘Non-specialised wholesale trade' sectors.
  • There are lower registrations relative to November 2019 in ‘Activities of holding companies', ‘Engineering activities and related technical consultancy’ and ‘Renting and operating of own or leased real estate'.

Last updated on Dec 2, 2021