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Company Formations in 2020: Kent

Man holding pagper

???? Businesses formed in Kent during 2020

8.1% more companies in Kent compared to 2019

New businesses in Kent mapped

Boroughs

  • AAshford: 1,509
  • BCanterbury: 1,247
  • CDartford: 1,865
  • DDover: 733
  • EGravesham: 1,421
  • FMaidstone: 1,744
  • GMedway: 2,785
  • HSevenoaks: 1,329
  • IShepway: 933
  • JSwale: 967
  • KThanet: 1,398
  • LTonbridge and Malling: 1,378
  • MTunbridge Wells: 1,175

Companies formed in 2020 league table

The counties in England where most companies are formed, and how Kent compares.

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Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
1st 2019: 1st
London
270,114
2nd 2019: 3rd
West Midlands
37,202
3rd 2019: 2nd
Greater Manchester
36,288
4th 2019: 4th
West Yorkshire
22,615
5th 2019: 5th
Essex
19,277
6th 2019: 6th
Kent
18,501
Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
1st 2019: 1st
London
270,114
5th 2019: 5th
Essex
19,277
6th 2019: 6th
Kent
18,501
12th 2019: 12th
Surrey
11,997
20th 2019: 20th
East Sussex
8,149
29th 2019: 29th
West Sussex
6,880
Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
1st 2019: 1st
London
270,114
2nd 2019: 3rd
West Midlands
37,202
3rd 2019: 2nd
Greater Manchester
36,288
4th 2019: 4th
West Yorkshire
22,615
5th 2019: 5th
Essex
19,277
6th 2019: 6th
Kent
18,501
7th 2019: 8th
Hampshire
15,534
8th 2019: 7th
Hertfordshire
14,464
9th 2019: 10th
Merseyside
13,410
10th 2019: 11th
Lancashire
12,655
11th 2019: 13th
Leicestershire
12,543
12th 2019: 12th
Surrey
11,997
13th 2019: 9th
Cheshire
11,017
14th 2019: 15th
South Yorkshire
10,450
15th 2019: 16th
Berkshire
9,920
16th 2019: 17th
Buckinghamshire
9,394
17th 2019: 21st
Nottinghamshire
8,760
18th 2019: 26th
Bedfordshire
8,238
19th 2019: 22nd
North Yorkshire
8,200
20th 2019: 20th
East Sussex
8,149
21st 2019: 23rd
Tyne and Wear
7,867
22nd 2019: 24th
Staffordshire
7,720
23rd 2019: 18th
Northamptonshire
7,534
24th 2019: 25th
Cambridgeshire
7,516
25th 2019: 27th
Derbyshire
7,413
26th 2019: 19th
Dorset
7,253
27th 2019: 28th
Devon
7,174
28th 2019: 14th
Worcestershire
6,955
29th 2019: 29th
West Sussex
6,880
30th 2019: 30th
Lincolnshire
6,475
31st 2019: 31st
Somerset
6,432
32nd 2019: 32nd
Gloucestershire
6,419
33rd 2019: 35th
Bristol
5,559
34th 2019: 34th
Oxfordshire
5,363
35th 2019: 38th
Suffolk
5,105
36th 2019: 37th
Durham
5,083
37th 2019: 36th
Norfolk
5,006
38th 2019: 33rd
Warwickshire
4,920
39th 2019: 39th
Wiltshire
4,645
40th 2019: 40th
East Riding of Yorkshire
3,667
41st 2019: 41st
Shropshire
3,386
42nd 2019: 42nd
Cornwall
2,951
43rd 2019: 43rd
Cumbria
2,333
44th 2019: 45th
Herefordshire
2,327
45th 2019: 44th
Northumberland
1,560
46th 2019: 46th
Isle of Wight
765
47th 2019: 47th
Rutland
410

New incorporations in 2020 per 1000 Man standing people

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In Kent

10.7

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National Average

12.3

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Type of companies formed in Kent breakdown

97% Private Limited Companies (17,914 companies)

3% Other company types (587 companies)

Other company types breakdown (587 companies)

Total companies in Kent by the end of 2020

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Businesses formed in Kent during 2020

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Businesses dissolved in Kent during 2020

meaning there is a total of

122,694

businesses registered in Kent at the end of 2020.

8.1% more companies in Kent compared to 2019

Surrounding counties 2020 breakdown & comparison

East Sussex

70,311 total businesses
8,149 formed in 2020
5,499 dissolved in 2020

Essex

137,310 total businesses
19,277 formed in 2020
11,274 dissolved in 2020

West Sussex

56,212 total businesses
6,880 formed in 2020
4,250 dissolved in 2020

Surrey

105,715 total businesses
11,997 formed in 2020
7,657 dissolved in 2020

London

1,338,261 total businesses
270,114 formed in 2020
118,911 dissolved in 2020

Kent

122,694 total businesses
18,501 formed in 2020
10,634 dissolved in 2020

KentEssexLondonEast SussexWest SussexSurrey

Ward breakdown data for

Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Aylesford Green
8
22
14
Beaver
12
31
19
Biddenden
8
28
20
Bockhanger
6
8
2
Boughton Aluph and Eastwell
38
91
53
Bybrook
6
11
5
Charing
52
125
73
Downs North
7
24
17
Downs West
12
18
6
Godinton
72
148
76
Great Chart with Singleton North
12
33
21
Highfield
13
32
19
Isle of Oxney
11
15
4
Kennington
9
20
11
Little Burton Farm
10
22
12
Norman
36
64
28
North Willesborough
15
32
17
Park Farm North
17
22
5
Park Farm South
7
22
15
Rolvenden and Tenterden West
13
17
4
Saxon Shore
119
170
51
Singleton South
2
17
15
South Willesborough
17
46
29
St Michaels
9
9
0
Stanhope
12
20
8
Stour
60
89
29
Tenterden North
6
20
14
Tenterden South
13
11
-2
Victoria
82
137
55
Washford
9
15
6
Weald Central
43
60
17
Weald East
25
36
11
Weald North
16
32
16
Weald South
29
48
19
Wye
6
14
8
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Barton
89
187
98
Beltinge
22
38
16
Blean Forest
18
54
36
Chartham & Stone Street
16
51
35
Chestfield
28
65
37
Gorrell
73
107
34
Greenhill
11
19
8
Herne & Broomfield
28
55
27
Heron
74
137
63
Little Stour & Adisham
12
31
19
Nailbourne
20
21
1
Northgate
16
49
33
Reculver
14
20
6
Seasalter
24
32
8
St Stephen's
17
53
36
Sturry
26
38
12
Swalecliffe
10
16
6
Tankerton
9
17
8
West Bay
12
17
5
Westgate
88
134
46
Wincheap
35
106
71
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Bean and Darenth
13
150
137
Brent
42
74
32
Castle
99
164
65
Cray Meadows
0
0
Greenhithe
40
113
73
Hartley and Hodsoll Street
20
29
9
Heath
39
80
41
Joyce Green
37
147
110
Joydens Wood
39
79
40
Littlebrook
25
47
22
Longfield New Barn and Southfleet
40
70
30
Newtown
53
145
92
Princes
26
85
59
Stone
68
249
181
Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley
97
128
31
Swanscombe
46
101
55
Town
183
210
27
West Hill
76
173
97
Wilmington
9
27
18
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Aylesham
15
22
7
Buckland
14
17
3
Capel-le-Ferne
1
8
7
Castle
99
164
65
Eastry
75
26
-49
Eythorne and Shepherdswell
18
20
2
Little Stour and Ashstone
20
27
7
Lydden and Temple Ewell
3
8
5
Maxton Elms Vale and Priory
22
37
15
Middle Deal and Sholden
16
35
19
Mill Hill
14
15
1
North Deal
31
66
35
Ringwould
7
8
1
River
188
293
105
Sandwich
35
68
33
St Margaret's-at-Cliffe
18
22
4
St Radigunds
59
131
72
Tower Hamlets
21
52
31
Town and Pier
7
16
9
Walmer
12
41
29
Whitfield
17
33
16
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Central
102
234
132
Chalk
7
16
9
Coldharbour
38
61
23
Higham
26
41
15
Istead Rise
16
26
10
Meopham North
17
81
64
Meopham South and Vigo
17
31
14
Northfleet North
37
123
86
Northfleet South
56
119
63
Painters Ash
13
37
24
Pelham
71
143
72
Riverside
48
180
132
Riverview
9
33
24
Shorne Cobham and Luddesdown
21
34
13
Singlewell
39
111
72
Westcourt
30
68
38
Whitehill
21
32
11
Woodlands
27
71
44
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Allington
16
47
31
Barming
14
9
-5
Bearsted
17
43
26
Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton
20
23
3
Boxley
38
86
48
Bridge
38
72
34
Coxheath and Hunton
28
46
18
Detling and Thurnham
17
32
15
Downswood and Otham
8
21
13
East
60
83
23
Fant
55
108
53
Harrietsham and Lenham
22
43
21
Headcorn
19
30
11
Heath
39
80
41
High Street
280
551
271
Leeds
6
16
10
Loose
7
12
5
Marden and Yalding
39
64
25
North
50
69
19
North Downs
11
11
0
Park Wood
22
57
35
Shepway North
22
72
50
Shepway South
17
28
11
South
34
143
109
Staplehurst
20
24
4
Sutton Valence and Langley
13
15
2
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Chatham Central
52
168
116
Cuxton and Halling
15
40
25
Gillingham North
110
238
128
Gillingham South
99
209
110
Hempstead and Wigmore
15
39
24
Lordswood and Capstone
81
112
31
Luton and Wayfield
95
166
71
Peninsula
41
77
36
Princes Park
34
200
166
Rainham Central
47
71
24
Rainham North
65
96
31
Rainham South
41
75
34
River
188
293
105
Rochester East
33
60
27
Rochester South and Horsted
75
126
51
Rochester West
69
133
64
Strood North
59
124
65
Strood Rural
126
224
98
Strood South
67
139
72
Twydall
36
58
22
Walderslade
31
66
35
Watling
55
95
40
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Ash and New Ash Green
25
42
17
Brasted Chevening and Sundridge
34
75
41
Cowden and Hever
18
19
1
Crockenhill and Well Hill
8
17
9
Dunton Green and Riverhead
32
34
2
Edenbridge North and East
33
52
19
Edenbridge South and West
17
36
19
Eynsford
11
18
7
Farningham Horton Kirby and South Darenth
20
47
27
Fawkham and West Kingsdown
67
85
18
Halstead Knockholt and Badgers Mount
41
33
-8
Hartley and Hodsoll Street
20
29
9
Hextable
7
22
15
Kemsing
47
82
35
Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway
8
20
12
Otford and Shoreham
19
34
15
Penshurst Fordcombe and Chiddingstone
11
12
1
Seal and Weald
27
68
41
Sevenoaks Eastern
36
48
12
Sevenoaks Kippington
23
30
7
Sevenoaks Northern
18
20
2
Sevenoaks Town and St John's
86
191
105
Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village
103
144
41
Swanley St Mary's
13
26
13
Swanley White Oak
21
60
39
Westerham and Crockham Hill
82
85
3
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Broadmead
16
17
1
Cheriton
52
103
51
East Folkestone
55
56
1
Folkestone Central
991
187
-804
Folkestone Harbour
25
39
14
Hythe
35
60
25
Hythe Rural
21
27
6
New Romney
33
56
23
North Downs East
31
66
35
North Downs West
28
38
10
Romney Marsh
28
33
5
Sandgate & West Folkestone
170
198
28
Walland & Denge Marsh
23
53
30
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Abbey
39
56
17
Bobbing Iwade and Lower Halstow
22
32
10
Borden and Grove Park
23
34
11
Boughton and Courtenay
28
71
43
Chalkwell
12
32
20
East Downs
15
19
4
Hartlip Newington and Upchurch
22
37
15
Homewood
53
54
1
Kemsley
27
50
23
Milton Regis
16
31
15
Minster Cliffs
21
41
20
Murston
30
92
62
Priory
4
11
7
Queenborough and Halfway
30
27
-3
Roman
11
44
33
Sheerness
48
78
30
Sheppey Central
18
53
35
Sheppey East
22
40
18
St Ann's
18
16
-2
Teynham and Lynsted
18
33
15
The Meads
34
63
29
Watling
55
95
40
West Downs
13
25
12
Woodstock
14
17
3
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Beacon Road
11
23
12
Birchington North
9
22
13
Birchington South
11
27
16
Bradstowe
35
80
45
Central Harbour
45
81
36
Cliffsend and Pegwell
17
29
12
Cliftonville East
25
39
14
Cliftonville West
59
179
120
Dane Valley
25
33
8
Eastcliff
36
64
28
Garlinge
9
32
23
Kingsgate
4
13
9
Margate Central
63
339
276
Nethercourt
14
16
2
Newington
11
26
15
Northwood
58
109
51
Salmestone
30
38
8
Sir Moses Montefiore
10
22
12
St Peters
33
43
10
Thanet Villages
33
45
12
Viking
25
62
37
Westbrook
22
31
9
Westgate-on-Sea
16
45
29
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Aylesford North and Walderslade
46
65
19
Aylesford South
36
231
195
Borough Green and Long Mill
50
55
5
Burham and Wouldham
11
17
6
Cage Green
9
14
5
Castle
99
164
65
Ditton
20
33
13
Downs and Mereworth
21
32
11
East Malling
25
34
9
Hadlow and East Peckham
33
79
46
Higham
26
41
15
Hildenborough
40
70
30
Judd
34
50
16
Kings Hill
91
160
69
Larkfield North
13
34
21
Larkfield South
16
21
5
Medway
46
67
21
Snodland East and Ham Hill
10
23
13
Snodland West and Holborough Lakes
26
33
7
Trench
16
21
5
Vauxhall
24
98
74
Wateringbury
11
10
-1
West Malling and Leybourne
50
77
27
Wrotham Ightham and Stansted
25
64
39
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Benenden and Cranbrook
29
58
29
Biddenden
8
28
20
Brenchley and Horsmonden
26
35
9
Broadwater
19
47
28
Capel
3
13
10
Culverden
188
219
31
Frittenden and Sissinghurst
12
14
2
Goudhurst and Lamberhurst
27
52
25
Hawkhurst and Sandhurst
19
32
13
Paddock Wood East
32
43
11
Paddock Wood West
12
29
17
Pantiles and St Mark's
76
151
75
Park
44
74
30
Pembury
24
31
7
Rusthall
30
30
0
Sherwood
25
55
30
Southborough and High Brooms
30
76
46
Southborough North
21
34
13
Speldhurst and Bidborough
37
48
11
St James'
54
77
23
St John's
35
57
22

Total companies 2020 league table

The counties in England where the most existing companies were based at the end of 2020 and how Kent compares to them.

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Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
1st 2019: 1st
London
1,338,261
2nd 2019: 2nd
Greater Manchester
207,946
3rd 2019: 3rd
West Midlands
191,692
4th 2019: 4th
Essex
137,310
5th 2019: 5th
West Yorkshire
135,276
6th 2019: 7th
Kent
122,694
Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
1st 2019: 1st
London
1,338,261
4th 2019: 4th
Essex
137,310
6th 2019: 7th
Kent
122,694
9th 2019: 9th
Surrey
105,715
16th 2019: 15th
East Sussex
70,311
20th 2019: 21st
West Sussex
56,212
Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
1st 2019: 1st
London
1,338,261
2nd 2019: 2nd
Greater Manchester
207,946
3rd 2019: 3rd
West Midlands
191,692
4th 2019: 4th
Essex
137,310
5th 2019: 5th
West Yorkshire
135,276
6th 2019: 7th
Kent
122,694
7th 2019: 6th
Hampshire
121,331
8th 2019: 8th
Hertfordshire
117,796
9th 2019: 9th
Surrey
105,715
10th 2019: 10th
Cheshire
86,796
11th 2019: 11th
Lancashire
83,690
12th 2019: 14th
Merseyside
74,780
13th 2019: 13th
Buckinghamshire
73,748
14th 2019: 12th
Berkshire
73,492
15th 2019: 16th
Leicestershire
71,425
16th 2019: 15th
East Sussex
70,311
17th 2019: 17th
South Yorkshire
65,398
18th 2019: 19th
North Yorkshire
58,526
19th 2019: 20th
Devon
57,278
20th 2019: 21st
West Sussex
56,212
21st 2019: 25th
Nottinghamshire
56,199
22nd 2019: 22nd
Gloucestershire
55,106
23rd 2019: 23rd
Somerset
55,092
24th 2019: 24th
Staffordshire
54,862
25th 2019: 18th
Dorset
54,841
26th 2019: 26th
Cambridgeshire
54,497
27th 2019: 27th
Northamptonshire
52,017
28th 2019: 28th
Derbyshire
51,742
29th 2019: 29th
Lincolnshire
48,061
30th 2019: 30th
Tyne and Wear
47,790
31st 2019: 33rd
Bedfordshire
46,207
32nd 2019: 32nd
Oxfordshire
45,071
33rd 2019: 31st
Worcestershire
44,570
34th 2019: 35th
Norfolk
41,185
35th 2019: 34th
Warwickshire
40,304
36th 2019: 37th
Suffolk
39,507
37th 2019: 36th
Wiltshire
39,022
38th 2019: 38th
Bristol
36,208
39th 2019: 39th
Durham
31,943
40th 2019: 40th
East Riding of Yorkshire
26,864
41st 2019: 41st
Shropshire
25,603
42nd 2019: 42nd
Cornwall
23,804
43rd 2019: 43rd
Cumbria
22,186
44th 2019: 45th
Herefordshire
12,800
45th 2019: 44th
Northumberland
11,575
46th 2019: 46th
Isle of Wight
6,118
47th 2019: 47th
Rutland
2,257

Total companies at the end of 2020 per 1000 Person people

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70.9

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National Average

76.4

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The last 5 years

How the total number of companies in Kent has changed over the last 5 years as new companies have been formed and some existing companies dissolved.

2016

14,577 formed

10,985 dissolved

2017

14,860 formed

10,950 dissolved

2018

15,057 formed

11,568 dissolved

2019

15,963 formed

12,199 dissolved

2020

18,501 formed

10,634 dissolved

Overall growth compared to previous year

6.32% vs 2016

3.54% vs 2017

4.26% vs 2018

8.1% vs 2019