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Company Formations in 2021: Lancashire

Man holding pagper

???? Businesses formed in Lancashire during 2021

4.6% more companies in Lancashire compared to 2020

New businesses in Lancashire mapped

Boroughs

  • ABlackburn with Darwen: 1,911
  • BBlackpool: 1,168
  • CBurnley: 610
  • DChorley: 981
  • EFylde: 853
  • FHyndburn: 501
  • GLancaster: 768
  • HPendle: 746
  • IPreston: 1,772
  • JRibble Valley: 460
  • KRossendale: 608
  • LSouth Ribble: 747
  • MWest Lancashire: 914
  • NWyre: 738

Companies formed in 2021 league table

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

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Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
1st 2020: 1st
London
269,246
2nd 2020: 2nd
West Midlands
36,485
3rd 2020: 3rd
Greater Manchester
36,442
4th 2020: 4th
West Yorkshire
22,140
5th 2020: 5th
Essex
18,584
10th 2020: 10th
Lancashire
12,800
Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
3rd 2020: 3rd
Greater Manchester
36,442
4th 2020: 4th
West Yorkshire
22,140
9th 2020: 9th
Merseyside
13,108
10th 2020: 10th
Lancashire
12,800
21st 2020: 19th
North Yorkshire
7,614
44th 2020: 43rd
Cumbria
2,286
Rank
County
No. Companies formed
Rank County No. Companies formed
1st 2020: 1st
London
269,246
2nd 2020: 2nd
West Midlands
36,485
3rd 2020: 3rd
Greater Manchester
36,442
4th 2020: 4th
West Yorkshire
22,140
5th 2020: 5th
Essex
18,584
6th 2020: 6th
Kent
16,625
7th 2020: 7th
Hampshire
14,512
8th 2020: 8th
Hertfordshire
13,899
9th 2020: 9th
Merseyside
13,108
10th 2020: 10th
Lancashire
12,800
11th 2020: 12th
Surrey
11,021
12th 2020: 14th
South Yorkshire
10,815
13th 2020: 13th
Cheshire
9,800
14th 2020: 11th
Leicestershire
9,685
15th 2020: 15th
Berkshire
9,605
16th 2020: 16th
Buckinghamshire
8,910
17th 2020: 17th
Nottinghamshire
8,810
18th 2020: 22nd
Staffordshire
8,541
19th 2020: 20th
East Sussex
7,675
20th 2020: 21st
Tyne and Wear
7,623
21st 2020: 19th
North Yorkshire
7,614
22nd 2020: 26th
Dorset
7,584
23rd 2020: 24th
Cambridgeshire
7,476
24th 2020: 18th
Bedfordshire
7,413
25th 2020: 28th
Worcestershire
7,361
26th 2020: 25th
Derbyshire
7,261
27th 2020: 23rd
Northamptonshire
7,131
28th 2020: 31st
Somerset
7,057
29th 2020: 30th
Lincolnshire
6,903
30th 2020: 27th
Devon
6,825
31st 2020: 29th
West Sussex
6,463
32nd 2020: 32nd
Gloucestershire
6,357
33rd 2020: 35th
Suffolk
5,445
34th 2020: 37th
Norfolk
5,214
35th 2020: 33rd
Bristol
5,125
36th 2020: 38th
Warwickshire
5,117
37th 2020: 36th
Durham
5,065
38th 2020: 34th
Oxfordshire
5,053
39th 2020: 39th
Wiltshire
4,432
40th 2020: 40th
East Riding of Yorkshire
3,749
41st 2020: 42nd
Cornwall
2,993
42nd 2020: 41st
Shropshire
2,914
43rd 2020: 44th
Herefordshire
2,858
44th 2020: 43rd
Cumbria
2,286
45th 2020: 45th
Northumberland
1,421
46th 2020: 46th
Isle of Wight
697
47th 2020: 47th
Rutland
195

New incorporations in 2021 per 1000 Man standing people

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In Lancashire

8.8

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National Average

12.2

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Type of companies formed in Lancashire breakdown

98% Private Limited Companies (12,503 companies)

2% Other company types (297 companies)

Other company types breakdown (297 companies)

Total companies in Lancashire by the end of 2021

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Businesses formed in Lancashire during 2021

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Businesses dissolved in Lancashire during 2021

Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Companies House did not always process company dissolutions as soon as the standard conditions for dissolution were first met.

meaning there is a total of

87,562

businesses registered in Lancashire at the end of 2021.

4.6% more companies in Lancashire compared to 2020

Surrounding counties 2021 breakdown & comparison

Cumbria

22,499 total businesses
2,286 formed in 2021
2,292 dissolved in 2021

North Yorkshire

59,819 total businesses
7,614 formed in 2021
6,384 dissolved in 2021

Greater Manchester

217,557 total businesses
36,442 formed in 2021
28,629 dissolved in 2021

West Yorkshire

141,120 total businesses
22,140 formed in 2021
17,256 dissolved in 2021

Merseyside

78,022 total businesses
13,108 formed in 2021
10,601 dissolved in 2021

Lancashire

87,562 total businesses
12,800 formed in 2021
10,548 dissolved in 2021

CumbriaNorthYorkshireLancashireWestYorkshireGreaterManchesterMerseyside

Ward breakdown data for

Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Audley
44
103
59
Bastwell
56
62
6
Beardwood with Lammack
26
54
28
Corporation Park
49
74
25
Earcroft
53
85
32
East Rural
6
11
5
Ewood
36
60
24
Fernhurst
28
31
3
Higher Croft
53
65
12
Little Harwood
89
151
62
Livesey with Pleasington
18
22
4
Marsh House
34
29
-5
Meadowhead
12
23
11
Mill Hill
35
36
1
North Turton with Tockholes
37
58
21
Queen's Park
51
431
380
Roe Lee
32
44
12
Shadsworth with Whitebirk
52
85
33
Shear Brow
122
192
70
Sudell
36
43
7
Sunnyhurst
54
92
38
Wensley Fold
92
139
47
Whitehall
16
21
5
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Anchorsholme
25
16
-9
Bispham
34
29
-5
Bloomfield
68
62
-6
Brunswick
30
99
69
Claremont
39
101
62
Clifton
76
110
34
Greenlands
17
31
14
Hawes Side
29
34
5
Highfield
19
24
5
Ingthorpe
22
31
9
Layton
46
79
33
Marton
88
70
-18
Norbreck
27
15
-12
Park
70
139
69
Squires Gate
20
21
1
Stanley
174
98
-76
Talbot
136
167
31
Tyldesley
33
33
0
Victoria
26
20
-6
Warbreck
24
31
7
Warton and Westby
256
160
-96
Waterloo
37
71
34
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Bank Hall
40
41
1
Briercliffe
16
24
8
Brunshaw
19
32
13
Cliviger with Worsthorne
28
17
-11
Coal Clough with Deerplay
29
26
-3
Daneshouse with Stoneyholme
87
120
33
Gannow
20
20
0
Gawthorpe
27
35
8
Hapton with Park
47
58
11
Lanehead
16
30
14
Queensgate
39
62
23
Rosegrove with Lowerhouse
51
45
-6
Rosehill with Burnley Wood
24
24
0
Trinity
31
51
20
Whittlefield with Ightenhill
18
25
7
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Adlington and Anderton
29
49
20
Astley and Buckshaw
35
122
87
Brindle and Hoghton
10
22
12
Buckshaw & Worden
25
31
6
Chisnall
96
39
-57
Chorley East
42
86
44
Chorley North East
42
34
-8
Chorley North West
72
135
63
Chorley South East
142
106
-36
Chorley South West
29
38
9
Clayton-le-Woods and Whittle-le-Woods
54
42
-12
Clayton-le-Woods North
24
30
6
Clayton-le-Woods West and Cuerden
14
22
8
Coppull
45
49
4
Eccleston and Mawdesley
37
36
-1
Euxton North
40
74
34
Euxton South
12
20
8
Heath Charnock and Rivington
6
9
3
Lostock
23
33
10
Pennine
10
15
5
Wheelton and Withnell
12
20
8
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Ansdell
16
21
5
Ashton
39
39
0
Central
175
219
44
Clifton
76
110
34
Elswick and Little Eccleston
6
8
2
Fairhaven
30
29
-1
Freckleton East
20
12
-8
Freckleton West
13
9
-4
Heyhouses
12
23
11
Kilnhouse
17
12
-5
Kirkham North
9
23
14
Kirkham South
21
19
-2
Medlar-with-Wesham
11
13
2
Newton and Treales
26
26
0
Park
70
139
69
Ribby-with-Wrea
5
13
8
Singleton and Greenhalgh
6
5
-1
St Johns
583
165
-418
St Leonards
41
45
4
Staining and Weeton
7
14
7
Warton and Westby
256
160
-96
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Altham
18
29
11
Barnfield
47
84
37
Baxenden
11
11
0
Central
175
219
44
Church
25
24
-1
Clayton-le-Moors
31
30
-1
Huncoat
18
11
-7
Immanuel
9
17
8
Milnshaw
10
17
7
Netherton
26
43
17
Overton
50
46
-4
Peel
28
29
1
Rishton
35
30
-5
Spring Hill
35
38
3
St Andrew's
22
24
2
St Oswald's
21
22
1
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Bare
26
20
-6
Bolton & Slyne
34
44
10
Bulk
23
35
12
Carnforth & Millhead
26
24
-2
Castle
70
100
30
Ellel
29
13
-16
Halton-with-Aughton
15
11
-4
Harbour
13
37
24
Heysham Central
12
26
14
Heysham North
28
20
-8
Heysham South
28
34
6
John O'Gaunt
12
27
15
Kellet
10
8
-2
Lower Lune Valley
57
37
-20
Marsh
17
21
4
Overton
50
46
-4
Poulton
48
60
12
Scotforth East
13
16
3
Scotforth West
32
39
7
Silverdale
7
5
-2
Skerton East
27
22
-5
Skerton West
22
22
0
Torrisholme
22
25
3
University & Scotforth Rural
8
15
7
Upper Lune Valley
10
36
26
Warton
14
4
-10
Westgate
30
44
14
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Barrowford
30
46
16
Blacko and Higherford
6
6
0
Boulsworth
17
22
5
Bradley
58
122
64
Brierfield
34
51
17
Clover Hill
33
45
12
Coates
25
22
-3
Craven
28
32
4
Earby
24
20
-4
Foulridge
7
13
6
Higham and Pendleside
9
11
2
Horsfield
17
19
2
Marsden
7
24
17
Old Laund Booth
16
8
-8
Reedley
38
56
18
Southfield
39
43
4
Vivary Bridge
22
44
22
Walverden
18
29
11
Waterside
28
38
10
Whitefield
47
95
48
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Ashton
39
39
0
Brookfield
27
144
117
Cadley
76
44
-32
College
30
57
27
Deepdale
33
52
19
Fishwick
45
149
104
Garrison
44
59
15
Greyfriars
27
49
22
Ingol
22
23
1
Larches
31
27
-4
Lea
23
30
7
Moor Park
63
91
28
Newton and Treales
26
26
0
Preston Rural East
26
20
-6
Preston Rural North
39
56
17
Ribbleton
33
49
16
Riversway
123
201
78
Sharoe Green
68
101
33
St George's
55
61
6
St Matthew's
79
129
50
Town Centre
401
243
-158
Tulketh
65
99
34
University
33
62
29
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Aighton Bailey and Chaigley
13
7
-6
Alston and Hothersall
10
17
7
Billington and Old Langho
14
25
11
Bowland Newton and Slaidburn
6
11
5
Chatburn
8
8
0
Chipping
4
0
-4
Clayton-le-Dale with Ramsgreave
26
34
8
Derby and Thornley
43
31
-12
Dilworth
14
11
-3
Edisford and Low Moor
8
11
3
Gisburn Rimington
6
15
9
Langho
21
28
7
Littlemoor
10
15
5
Mellor
8
24
16
Primrose
13
19
6
Read and Simonstone
16
24
8
Ribchester
11
11
0
Sabden
1
9
8
Salthill
30
62
32
Settle and Ribblebanks
1
0
-1
St Mary's
11
13
2
Waddington and West Bradford
20
13
-7
Whalley
32
38
6
Wilpshire
15
12
-3
Wiswell and Pendleton
38
22
-16
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Cribden
21
25
4
Eden
17
20
3
Facit and Shawforth
10
20
10
Goodshaw
22
25
3
Greenfield
25
25
0
Greensclough
174
166
-8
Hareholme
42
70
28
Healey and Whitworth
10
16
6
Helmshore
30
22
-8
Irwell
25
23
-2
Longholme
36
41
5
Stacksteads
17
13
-4
Whitewell
35
33
-2
Worsley
130
109
-21
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Bamber Bridge East
76
106
30
Bamber Bridge West
28
39
11
Broad Oak
19
10
-9
Broadfield
33
40
7
Buckshaw & Worden
25
31
6
Charnock
8
11
3
Coupe Green & Gregson Lane
26
17
-9
Earnshaw Bridge
15
14
-1
Farington East
18
32
14
Farington West
18
15
-3
Hoole
25
45
20
Howick & Priory
24
27
3
Leyland Central
49
93
44
Longton & Hutton West
24
34
10
Lostock Hall
11
25
14
Middleforth
28
32
4
Moss Side
19
25
6
New Longton & Hutton East
22
34
12
Samlesbury & Walton
17
28
11
Seven Stars
19
12
-7
St Ambrose
21
34
13
Walton-le-Dale East
12
24
12
Walton-le-Dale West
19
19
0
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Ashurst
26
27
1
Aughton and Downholland
23
41
18
Aughton Park
17
21
4
Bickerstaffe
11
11
0
Birch Green
21
18
-3
Burscough East
12
18
6
Burscough West
65
241
176
Derby
16
18
2
Digmoor
13
28
15
Halsall
20
16
-4
Hesketh-with-Becconsall
37
30
-7
Knowsley
14
21
7
Moorside
12
15
3
Newburgh
7
6
-1
North Meols
17
25
8
Parbold
21
25
4
Rufford
5
19
14
Scarisbrick
25
30
5
Scott
53
80
27
Skelmersdale North
35
35
0
Skelmersdale South
38
47
9
Tanhouse
27
20
-7
Tarleton
22
35
13
Up Holland
37
48
11
Wrightington
108
39
-69
Ward
Dissolutions
Incorporations
Net Change
Ward Dissolutions Incorporations Net Change
Bourne
27
35
8
Breck
48
36
-12
Brock with Catterall
26
29
3
Calder
10
8
-2
Carleton
12
17
5
Cleveleys Park
9
12
3
Garstang
196
158
-38
Great Eccleston
18
28
10
Hambleton & Stalmine
19
18
-1
Hardhorn with High Cross
53
47
-6
Jubilee
40
53
13
Marsh Mill
56
66
10
Mount
11
21
10
Park
70
139
69
Pharos
74
47
-27
Pheasant's Wood
6
8
2
Pilling
21
20
-1
Preesall
22
14
-8
Rossall
12
19
7
Stanah
16
11
-5
Tithebarn
32
26
-6
Victoria & Norcross
25
20
-5
Warren
17
12
-5
Wyresdale
6
13
7

Total companies 2021 league table

The counties in England where the most existing companies were based at the end of 2021 and how Lancashire compares to them.

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Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
1st 2020: 1st
London
1,397,474
2nd 2020: 2nd
Greater Manchester
217,557
3rd 2020: 3rd
West Midlands
198,781
4th 2020: 4th
Essex
141,948
5th 2020: 5th
West Yorkshire
141,120
10th 2020: 11th
Lancashire
87,562
Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
2nd 2020: 2nd
Greater Manchester
217,557
5th 2020: 5th
West Yorkshire
141,120
10th 2020: 11th
Lancashire
87,562
12th 2020: 12th
Merseyside
78,022
19th 2020: 18th
North Yorkshire
59,819
43rd 2020: 43rd
Cumbria
22,499
Rank
County
Total companies
Rank County Total companies
1st 2020: 1st
London
1,397,474
2nd 2020: 2nd
Greater Manchester
217,557
3rd 2020: 3rd
West Midlands
198,781
4th 2020: 4th
Essex
141,948
5th 2020: 5th
West Yorkshire
141,120
6th 2020: 6th
Kent
126,550
7th 2020: 7th
Hampshire
123,584
8th 2020: 8th
Hertfordshire
118,798
9th 2020: 9th
Surrey
106,792
10th 2020: 11th
Lancashire
87,562
11th 2020: 10th
Cheshire
83,426
12th 2020: 12th
Merseyside
78,022
13th 2020: 14th
Berkshire
75,011
14th 2020: 13th
Buckinghamshire
74,634
15th 2020: 15th
Leicestershire
71,867
16th 2020: 16th
East Sussex
70,862
17th 2020: 17th
South Yorkshire
68,227
18th 2020: 19th
Devon
60,022
19th 2020: 18th
North Yorkshire
59,819
20th 2020: 21st
Nottinghamshire
58,780
21st 2020: 20th
West Sussex
57,619
22nd 2020: 24th
Staffordshire
57,556
23rd 2020: 23rd
Somerset
57,300
24th 2020: 22nd
Gloucestershire
56,711
25th 2020: 25th
Dorset
56,465
26th 2020: 26th
Cambridgeshire
56,346
27th 2020: 28th
Derbyshire
53,394
28th 2020: 27th
Northamptonshire
53,149
29th 2020: 29th
Lincolnshire
50,076
30th 2020: 30th
Tyne and Wear
49,266
31st 2020: 31st
Bedfordshire
47,831
32nd 2020: 32nd
Oxfordshire
45,883
33rd 2020: 34th
Norfolk
43,452
34th 2020: 33rd
Worcestershire
42,443
35th 2020: 36th
Suffolk
41,836
36th 2020: 35th
Warwickshire
40,740
37th 2020: 37th
Wiltshire
39,338
38th 2020: 38th
Bristol
36,239
39th 2020: 39th
Durham
33,620
40th 2020: 40th
East Riding of Yorkshire
27,909
41st 2020: 41st
Shropshire
25,765
42nd 2020: 42nd
Cornwall
24,752
43rd 2020: 43rd
Cumbria
22,499
44th 2020: 44th
Herefordshire
14,830
45th 2020: 45th
Northumberland
11,895
46th 2020: 46th
Isle of Wight
6,319
47th 2020: 47th
Rutland
2,056

Total companies at the end of 2021 per 1000 Person people

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In Lancashire

59.9

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National Average

79.1

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The last 5 years

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

2017

10,646 formed

8,024 dissolved

2018

11,291 formed

8,127 dissolved

2019

11,229 formed

9,084 dissolved

2020

12,655 formed

7,557 dissolved

2021

12,800 formed

10,548 dissolved

Overall growth compared to previous year

6.27% vs 2017

2.87% vs 2018

7.38% vs 2019

4.6% vs 2020