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The information is accurate as of 31 December 2022.
Data courtesy of Beauhurst.

Analysis Report: Economic and Business Activity in Channel Islands

Overview

The Channel Islands’ economic landscape is defined by its diversity in sectors, with notable contributions from professional, scientific, and technical activities. This region has a total of 25,941 employees, highlighting its robust workforce. However, details on the number of employee raisers are not provided. The absence of IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) indicates a focus on private or smaller-scale enterprises rather than public markets. The employee growth percentage stands at 12.61%, indicating a healthy expansion in the workforce. The presence of two scaleups suggests an environment conducive to business growth, although the number of new companies over the last two years is moderate at 214, with 171 new companies overall. The small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector is significant, with 148 businesses, accompanied by a modest number of exporters (3) and companies with foreign parentage (48). The region has recorded some business discontinuity with 81 company cessations and 9 dead companies.

Employment and Business Growth

  • Total Employees: 25,941. This figure represents a strong workforce, indicative of the region’s capacity to support a diverse range of businesses and sectors.
  • Employee Growth: 12.61%. This positive growth rate suggests an expanding job market, possibly driven by new business establishments or the scaling of existing ones.
  • Number of Scaleups: 2. Although relatively low, the presence of scaleups indicates a potential for business maturity and growth in the region.
  • New Companies in Last 2 Years: 214. This number, while moderate, demonstrates ongoing entrepreneurial activity and business establishment in the region.

Sector Dynamics

  • Top Sectors by Number of Companies: The leading sectors are professional, scientific, technical activities, administrative and support service activities, and wholesale and retail trade. This diversity reflects a balanced economic structure capable of sustaining various business types.
  • Top Sectors by Growth: Data on the top sectors by growth is not provided, but the presence of varied sectors indicates a multi-dimensional economic development.

Business Continuity

  • Company Cessations: 81. This number, while notable, must be contextualized within the total number of companies and new businesses.
  • Dead Companies: 9. This figure suggests some challenges in business sustainability, but it’s relatively low considering the total number of businesses.

Board Composition

  • Percentage of Female Directors: 11.91%. This figure points to a need for greater gender diversity in corporate leadership.
  • Percentage of Male Directors: 74.36%. This dominant percentage reflects a significant gender gap in board representation.
  • Age Distribution of Directors: Most directors fall within the 40-60 age range, indicating experienced leadership but also a potential gap in younger director representation.

Conclusion

The Channel Islands’ economic and business environment is characterized by a strong workforce, diverse sector participation, and a moderate level of new business establishments. Challenges include enhancing gender diversity in corporate leadership and fostering more young directors. The region shows signs of healthy economic activity but also areas where growth and diversification could be beneficial.

Company foundations and cessations over time

Active companies over time

The information is accurate as of 31 December 2022.
Data courtesy of Beauhurst.