Overview
Vale of White Horse, a local council area, shows a dynamic economic landscape with diverse sectors contributing to its growth. The presence of 7,202 employees across various industries, a significant number of new companies, and a healthy rate of employee growth suggest a robust economic environment. The data reflects a balanced mix of traditional and emerging sectors, indicating both stability and innovation in the region’s business ecosystem.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: 70,202. The council area has experienced a healthy growth in employment, with 975 companies reporting an increase in their workforce.
- Employee Growth Rate: The employee growth rate stands at 6.61%, indicating a positive trend in job creation.
- Top Sectors by Company Numbers: Professional, scientific, and technical activities lead with 1,890 companies (21.68%), followed by information and communication (959 companies, 11%), and wholesale and retail trade (879 companies, 10.08%).
- Top Sectors by Growth: Sectors such as ‘Analytics, Insight, Tools’, and ‘Internet Platform’ are among the top raisers, signaling a shift towards technology-oriented businesses.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: There have been 703 company cessations, which is a critical indicator for assessing the business environment’s stability.
- New Companies (2 Years): The emergence of 1,695 new companies over the last two years demonstrates a vibrant entrepreneurial environment.
- Scaleups: 62 companies are identified as scaleups, reflecting a strong potential for future economic contributions.
Gender Diversity in Leadership
- Founders’ Gender: Female founders constitute 16.22%, male founders 82.58%, with 1.20% unknown. This shows a significant gender gap in entrepreneurship.
- Directors’ Gender: Female directors are at 28.07%, male directors at 65.66%, and unknown at 6.28%. While there is better representation in directorship roles, gender disparity still exists.
Additional Indicators
- SMEs: The presence of 6,549 SMEs is a strong indicator of a diversified and resilient local economy.
- Exporters: With 318 exporters, the area demonstrates a degree of international business engagement.
- Companies with Foreign Parentage: 395 companies, suggesting international investment and global business connections.
- Fundraisings and Patent Owners: There have been 51 fundraisings and 1,507 patent owners, indicating an active innovation ecosystem.
Conclusion
Vale of White Horse presents a dynamic and growing economic environment with a strong presence in both traditional and emerging sectors. While there is notable growth in employment and business activities, challenges such as gender disparity in leadership roles and company cessations need attention. The presence of a significant number of SMEs and exporters contributes to the resilience and diversity of the local economy.