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

Analysis Report: Economic and Business Activity in Dacorum

Overview

This report analyses the economic and business activities in Dacorum, focusing on employment, sector dynamics, company trends, and gender representation in business leadership. Key indicators include total employment, sector-specific data, growth patterns, and company demographics.

Employment and Business Growth

  • Total Employees: Dacorum has a total of 131,539 employees. The employee count has seen a notable rise, with 1,603 raisers, indicating a healthy growth pattern in employment.
  • Percentage Employee Growth: The region experienced a 7.65% growth in employee count, signifying a robust and expanding job market.
  • Top Sectors by Company Count: The leading sectors are diverse, with ‘Professional, scientific, and technical activities’ (19.34%), ‘Information and communication’ (16.33%), and ‘Construction’ (11.85%) being the most prominent. This diversity suggests a balanced economic base.
  • Top Sectors by Growth: Sectors like ‘Mobile apps’, ‘Software-as-a-service (SaaS)’, and ‘Internet platform’ are among the fastest-growing, indicating a tilt towards the digital economy.
  • Number of Scaleups: With 74 scaleups, Dacorum shows a promising environment for business expansion and growth.

Business Structure and Demographics

  • Total Number of Companies: The area houses 15,479 companies, reflecting a vibrant and diverse business landscape.
  • New Companies in Last Two Years: There were 3,343 new companies established in the last two years, indicating a dynamic and entrepreneurial business climate.
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): With 12,118 SMEs, the local economy is heavily supported by smaller businesses, crucial for job creation and innovation.
  • Exporters and Foreign Parent Companies: There are 309 exporters and 288 companies with foreign parentage, highlighting Dacorum’s integration into the global market.

Innovation and Business Continuity

  • Company Cessations: The area witnessed 1,533 company cessations, a vital metric to monitor for assessing business continuity and economic resilience.
  • Patent Owners and Grantees: With 466 patent owners and 5 grantees, there’s evidence of innovation and research activity within the region.

Gender Representation in Business Leadership

  • Founders by Gender: The percentage of female founders stands at 22.58%, compared to 75.48% male founders. This shows a gender gap in entrepreneurial activity.
  • Directors by Gender: 26.94% of directors are female, while 69.32% are male, indicating a similar gender disparity in corporate leadership roles.
  • Age Distribution of Directors: Directors’ ages range widely, with the largest groups being those between 40-60 years, suggesting experienced leadership in the business community.

Conclusion

Dacorum’s economic landscape is characterised by a robust employment growth, a diverse sector presence with a tilt towards digital industries, and a dynamic entrepreneurial environment. The region shows promising signs of innovation and global integration, though there is a notable gender disparity in business leadership. Overall, Dacorum presents a healthy and evolving economic ecosystem.

Company foundations and cessations over time

Active companies over time

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