Overview
Chichester’s economic landscape is diverse, with a strong presence in professional, scientific, technical activities, construction, and retail trade. The city boasts a substantial workforce of 45,138 employees, with notable growth in several sectors. However, it faces challenges in gender diversity among founders and directors and a relatively low number of new companies.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: Chichester employs 45,138 people. This figure is significant for the city’s economy, indicating a robust workforce.
- Employee Growth: The employee base has grown by 6.73%, suggesting a healthy expansion in job opportunities.
- Top Sectors by Company Count: The leading sectors are professional, scientific, technical activities (17.24%), construction (11.71%), and retail trade (11.67%). This variety underscores a balanced economic structure.
- Top Growing Sectors: Notably, sectors such as Internet platforms, analytics, and agriculture are emerging as growth areas, indicating a shift towards technology and modern services.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: The data does not directly mention company cessations, but with 868 new companies and a total of 9,986 companies, the business environment appears dynamic.
- New Companies: In two years, 868 new companies were formed, suggesting a moderate entrepreneurial climate.
Sector Dynamics
- Scaleups: 57 scaleups indicate a nurturing environment for business growth.
- Top Sectors by Employment: The data doesn’t provide sector-specific employment figures. However, the prominence of professional and technical services likely contributes significantly to employment.
Company Trends
- Total Companies: There are 9,986 companies in Chichester, reflecting a substantial business ecosystem.
- New Companies: The addition of 868 new companies over two years shows a steady, if not rapid, pace of new business formation.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- Total SMEs: 8,004 SMEs form the backbone of Chichester’s economy, crucial for employment and local business activity.
- Exporters: 273 exporters highlight the city’s involvement in international trade.
Global Integration
- Foreign Parent Companies: 156 companies with foreign parentage indicate global business integration.
- Number of Fundraisings: With 129 fundraisings, there’s active investment and financial activity in the city.
Innovation and Technology
- Patent Owners: 9 patent owners in Chichester suggest a moderate level of innovation.
- Number of Grantees: Not specified, but the presence of patent owners and scaleups indicates some degree of innovation.
Gender Diversity
- Founders Gender: Only 12.96% female founders against 86.11% male founders show a significant gender gap in entrepreneurship.
- Directors Gender: 29.96% female directors and 66.63% male directors indicate a similar gender disparity in leadership roles.
Young Companies and Directors
- Young Companies with Young Directors: 241 companies led by young directors indicate a vibrant, youthful business leadership.
Conclusion
Chichester presents a diverse and growing economic landscape with strengths in various sectors. While it shows positive trends in employment growth and sector dynamics, there are areas for improvement in gender diversity among business leaders and fostering a more robust start-up ecosystem.