There were 2.15 million enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in 2009, compared to 2.16 million in March 2008, a 0.4 per cent decrease.
Between March 2008 and March 2009 there was a continued move towards incorporation, and a reduction in the number of sole proprietors and partnerships.
• Corporate Businesses (companies and public corporations) represent 58.2 per cent of total enterprises, an increase from 56.6 per cent in 2008 • Sole Proprietors represent 24.4 per cent of total enterprises, a decrease from 25.4 per cent in 2008 • Partnerships represent 13.5 per cent of total enterprises, a decrease from 14.1 per cent in 2008 • General Government and Non-Profit Making Bodies represent 4.0 per cent of total enterprises, an increase from 3.9 per cent in 2008
The professional, scientific and technical sector accounts for the largest number of businesses with 15.0 per cent of all enterprises registered. This is followed by construction with 13.4 per cent of all enterprises registered and retail with 8.9 per cent.
The distribution of enterprises by employment size band shows that 88.7 per cent had an employment of less than ten, and 98.0 per cent had less than 50 employment. Large enterprises, those with 250 or greater employment, accounted for only 0.4 per cent.
Analysis by age shows that 16.2 per cent of businesses were under two years old, and 30.9 per cent were under four years old. A further 41.9 per cent of businesses were ten or more years old.
There were only two regions that experienced growth in the number of businesses, London region increased by 0.8 per cent and the North East by 0.4 per cent. Yorkshire and The Humber region experienced the greatest decrease of 1.2 per cent followed by the South West with a decrease of 1.0 per cent.
Source: Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR), Office for National Statistics
Notes: Interactive data showing the geographic distribution of local units (sites) by activity can be accessed using the related, external and suggested links.
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