Overview
Clackmannanshire, a vibrant local council area, exhibits a diverse economic landscape with a strong presence in professional, scientific, technical, wholesale, retail, and construction sectors. Notable is the lack of IPOs, hinting at a predominantly small to medium-sized enterprise environment. The area shows a promising 10.46% employee growth, indicative of robust business activities and potential for future expansion.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: Clackmannanshire employs 7,495 individuals. The significant employee growth rate of 10.46% suggests a dynamic job market, potentially driven by emerging businesses and sector expansions.
- Employee Raisers: Data not provided.
- Number of Scale-ups: The presence of 9 scale-ups indicates a nurturing environment for business development, though this number suggests room for growth in fostering high-growth companies.
Sector Dynamics
- Top Sectors by Number of Companies: Leading sectors include professional, scientific, and technical activities (227 companies), wholesale/retail trade and motor vehicle repair (202 companies), and construction (183 companies). These sectors, forming the economic backbone, reflect a diverse industrial mix.
- Sectors with Rising Company Numbers: Data not provided.
Company Trends
- Total Number of Companies: Clackmannanshire hosts 1,362 companies, a healthy figure for a council of its size.
- New Companies in Last 2 Years: There have been 395 new companies in the last two years, indicating a thriving entrepreneurial spirit.
- Total New Companies: The area has seen the emergence of 205 new companies, further underscoring its growing business landscape.
- Number of SMEs: With 985 SMEs, the area’s economy is predominantly driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, crucial for job creation and innovation.
- Exporters and Foreign Parent Companies: The presence of 26 exporters and 6 companies with foreign parentage points to some level of international business engagement.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: Data not provided.
- Attendance and Dead Companies: There were 2,122 company attendances and 178 companies categorised as dead, suggesting a dynamic but challenging business environment.
Diversity and Innovation
- Founders and Directors Gender: Founders are predominantly male (85.71%), with female founders constituting 14.29%. Directors are more gender-diverse, with 30.56% female and 66.46% male.
- Patent Owners and Grantees: The presence of 1 patent owner indicates some degree of innovation, although it’s relatively low.
- Young Companies with Young Directors: There are 55 companies with young directors, signifying youthful entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
Clackmannanshire’s economic profile is characterised by a robust mix of sectors, significant SME presence, and a growing number of new companies. The high rate of employee growth and gender diversity in leadership positions are positive indicators. However, the low number of scale-ups and patent owners suggests potential areas for development in innovation and high-growth business support.