Overview
Halton’s economic landscape is characterised by a diverse mix of sectors, with significant activity in professional, scientific, technical, and construction sectors. The region boasts 87,689 employees, reflecting a dynamic employment scenario. The presence of a range of sectors, including emerging areas like research tools and healthcare products, highlights the region’s evolving business landscape. The data suggests robust SME activity and a noteworthy proportion of companies with foreign parentage, indicating an international dimension to the local economy.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: 87,689. Halton shows a healthy employment scenario, with 1,316 businesses reporting an increase in employees. The 15.998% employee growth rate is indicative of a vibrant job market, driven by sectoral dynamism and new company formations.
- Top Sectors by Company Numbers: Professional, scientific, and technical activities lead with 894 companies, followed by construction (718), and wholesale/retail trade (689). This diversity underlines a balanced economic structure.
- Top Sectors by Growth: Notable growth in research tools/reagents and clinical diagnostics sectors, among others, suggests emerging niches in Halton’s economy.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: Halton recorded 7264 company cessations, a significant number that might indicate market saturation or competitive challenges in certain sectors.
- New Companies (Last 2 Years): 1503 new companies were established in the last two years, showing a dynamic entrepreneurial environment.
- SME and Exporter Presence: With 3894 SMEs and 249 exporters, Halton exhibits a strong base of small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to the diversity and resilience of the local economy.
Directors and Founders Demographics
- Gender Diversity Among Founders and Directors: Female founders constitute 15.53% and male founders 81.55%, with a gender gap evident in entrepreneurship. Directors’ gender distribution is slightly more balanced, with 22.6% female and 73.38% male directors.
- Age Distribution of Directors: The majority of directors fall in the 40-60 age bracket, with those over 60 (24.26%) and those between 30-40 (16.93%) also representing significant portions.
Conclusion
Halton’s economic environment is marked by a robust mix of traditional and emerging sectors, with a strong base of SMEs and new business formations. The region faces challenges in company cessations and gender disparity among entrepreneurs and business leaders. However, the diversity in sectors and healthy employment growth suggest a resilient and evolving economic landscape.